Lawyers for accused killer seek commitment to state hospital

Lawyers for a man accused of killing his friend barehanded in a drunken rage are asking that he be committed to a state-run mental health hospital for no more than four months.

A psychiatrist determined in March that Mark James Lovejoy was not competent enough to stand trial in the death of Rodney Iron Hawk. If committed, he will be sent to the Human Services Center in Yankton to receive competency restoration services.

“There is reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Lovejoy is presently suffering from a mental disease or developmental disability rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceeding against him or to assist properly in his defense,” his lawyers wrote in the motion for commitment.

The 29-year-old faces life in prison if convicted on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of manslaughter. He also faces three counts of simple assault.

Questions were raised about Lovejoy’s mental state shortly after his arrest in January.

Police say Lovejoy and Iron Hawk had been drinking in a Sioux Falls motel room and began arguing. A motel worker warned the men to stop but ended up calling the cops when the argument became physical.

The men began to fight in the parking lot. Iron Hawk’s girlfriend tried to break it up but was struck by Lovejoy, leaving her with minor injuries, police say.

Lovejoy then mounted Iron Hawk and repeatedly punched him in the face, police say.

Another guest, who overheard the fight, pushed Lovejoy off of Iron Hawk, who died at a hospital soon after.

Lovejoy’s jury trial is scheduled to begin July 25. It will likely be pushed back if he’s committed to the state-run hospital.