Vet charged with attempted murder sent to mental hospital

Accused of firing 40 rounds into Ashton Manor home

Luling’s William Canada, a U.S. Army veteran charged with attempted murder of his estranged wife and her parents in August, was recently declared mentally incompetent to assist his legal defense and has been committed to a mental health institution before his trial.

Canada is charged with three counts of attempted murder in connection with a shooting that took place on Aug. 2. On that date, Canada allegedly went to the Ashton Manor home of his mother and father-in-law, where his wife was staying.

According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, he was armed with a 9-mm semiautomatic handgun, a Molotov cocktail and two cans of gasoline as he opened fire, shooting 40 rounds at the residence.

He has been remanded to the custody of East Louisiana Mental Health System’s Forensic Division at Jackson, Louisiana. to undergo treatment for a period mandated up to 90 days, according to court documents.

Judge Timothy Marcel’s court came to that conclusion after examining reports by the doctors comprising a sanity commission that evaluated Canada’s mental health. The doctors found Canada, at the time, lacked the mental capacity to understand the proceedings against him or assist in his defense.

A review hearing is scheduled Jan. 18.

At the time of the shooting, Sheriff Greg Champagne said Canada’s wife had been alerted to the possibility that he might come to the residence at 103 Lac Verret Drive.

“Due to text messages sent to Canada’s estranged wife, which raised concerns, the victim’s father spent the night in the living room out of caution,” Champagne said. “At approximately 4 a.m. the victim’s father observed Canada on the porch of the residence with two gas cans and a Molotov cocktail.”

Canada is accused of firing as many as 40 rounds into the home.

The father fired back, up to five shots, until he was struck in the chest, Champagne said.

Shortly before the attack, Canada texted his wife with the message, “Bye Bye A-holes.”

Earlier that day, Canada had also visited his recently sold home in Chalmette. The new homeowner reported to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office that he had been drinking and acting erratically, which resulted in an alert issued for Canada’s whereabouts and a warning to his estranged wife.

Champagne added a background search determined Canada was dealing with an addiction to painkillers from head injuries he sustained from an IED that exploded while on duty in Afghanistan.

After starting rehab, Champagne said the man’s marriage of two years deteriorated and his wife filed for divorce on July 22.