Man accused of killing UW student to undergo competency evaluation
The man accused of killing 19-year-old University of Washington student Juniper Blessing will have his mental health evaluated to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
Christopher Leahy, a 31-year-old man from Bellevue, did not enter a plea and chose not to show up during his scheduled arraignment Thursday morning.
This is the second time Leahy's arraignment has been continued in order to evaluate his competency. His initial arraignment was set for May 21 before it was continued so his defense counsel could assess concerns about his mental health and competency.
At Thursday's arraignment, Leahy's defense attorneys Laura Shaver and Jason Lantz said they did not think Leahy was competent after visiting him at the King County Jail several times.
The judge ordered Leahy to be committed to the Western State Hospital for 15 days of observation and to undergo a competency evaluation before his next scheduled court appearance on June 25.
Competency evaluations consider whether someone is able to aid in their own legal defense and understand the charges against them. If they are found "incompetent," the state is required to offer them short-term treatment - typically a combination of legal education and psychiatric medication - in an effort to restore their competency. If the defendant ultimately cannot be restored to competency, the charges are dismissed and a civil process to commit them to mental healthcare might begin.
Leahy has been charged with premeditated murder after he allegedly stabbed Blessing more than 40 times in the laundry room of her off-campus apartment complex, Nordheim Court, on May 10. Authorities do not believe the stabbing of Blessing, a transgender woman, was a hate crime.
The 31-year-old allegedly stalked another female student and resident of Nordheim Court and returned to the neighborhood two days after Blessing was killed.
The brutal killing left the UW community reeling.
Blessing was an atmospheric science major at the UW and was part of UW Chorale, an advanced undergraduate ensemble. She was remembered by friends and classmates as a caring friend, budding climate scientist and voice that moved many people.
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM.