A 19-year-old Pasco man shot by a police officer last month will be evaluated by state psychologists.

Ezequiel Chavez faced a Jan. 25 trial in Franklin County Superior Court for one count of first-degree assault with a gun.

He is accused of firing at Officer Chad Pettijohn, who then returned fire and hit Chavez in the left thigh and on his right side above his hip.

Chavez's trial date has been stayed, however, while he undergoes a mental evaluation by Eastern State Hospital psychologist at the Franklin County jail.

He will be back in court Jan. 17 for a status update.

Chavez was arrested Sept. 14 after he reportedly fired a .380-caliber, semi-automatic pistol at Pettijohn while running into the yard of a home in the 900 block of North 15th Avenue, court documents said.

The gun, with one round chambered, was found in the front yard near where Chavez fell.

Pettijohn, who was not hurt, shot at Chavez six times. Two rounds hit Chavez and three hit the house, but no one inside was hurt. The sixth round was not found by investigators.

Three weeks after the incident, Pettijohn was cleared of any wrongdoing. Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant said the shooting was justified.