SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A Chesapeake man charged in a December shooting incident was determined competent to stand trial after a brief hearing Thursday morning. His bishop was hurt in the incident.

Tremonte Smith, 25, faces attempted second-degree murder and two felony gun charges.

According to court documents, Smith entered the Divine Church of Deliverance and Transformation Holiness in the 6300 block of Whaleyville Blvd. during a Sunday service on December 8.

Smith approached a group with Bishop Brian Outlaw and seven other church members.

Surveillance video showed a struggle and a single gunshot. Outlaw had a minor injury following the struggle. Court paperwork showed that church security took a Taurus gun from Smith.

About ten of Smith’s family members attended the hearing Thursday where he was deemed competent to strand trial.

“My brother was not himself,” Davita Smith, Tremonte’s older sister, said outside the courthouse, describing his state of mind the day of the incident. “He was in a battle. He wasn’t himself. And you can feel that, if you look at his pictures, his eyes are completely black.”

Davita says Smith has been struggling with his mental health for years, but her brother and Bishop Outlaw have had a close spiritual relationship — and still do.

“He loves his bishop,” she said. “If you go to his profile on Facebook, you will see the history speaks for itself. He was at his graduation and every event Tremonte had. He loves him and Bishop loves him back. Is no love lost. It’s an unfortunate event, but we just as close as before this all happened.”

Smith says she encourages anyone with mental troubles to seek help. “This is not just some insane person that spiraled out of control. This is a mental health issue.”

And now it’s an issue for the justice system.

“We are trusting God,” she said, “and this has been a long process, but we are keeping the faith.”

Tremonte Smith is set for trial June 17 on one count each of attempted second-degree murder, malicious shooting in an occupied building, and use of a firearm in a felony.