Alleged Chelsea Middle School gunman to appear in court

The man who allegedly held five girls at gunpoint at Chelsea Middle School will appear in court on Monday, July 7.

Ryan Matthew Sims is charged with five counts of first-degree kidnapping and one count of making terroristic threats for the February 2013 incident, when he entered the school’s locker room and held the girls hostage with a pistol. He will appear before Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves.

Sims has entered two pleas: not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center diagnosed Sims with paranoid schizophrenia. His lawyer, John Anthony Lentine, said state examiners determined that Sims was not mentally competent at the time of the incident.

The July 7 court date is a status hearing, where the charges against Sims will be discussed and he will have the opportunity to change his plea or go ahead with a regular trial.