Hearing for suspect in college player’s death rescheduled

TOPEKA, Kan. – A competency hearing for a man accused of killing a Kansas college football player and wounding New York Giants cornerback Corey Ballentine was rescheduled Thursday because he had refused to co-operate with efforts to evaluate him.

During a hearing Thursday for Francisco Alejandro Mendez, Shawnee County District Judge Cheryl Rios was told Mendez had lied and not co-operated with the evaluation, according to online court records. After Mendez promised to co-operate, new competency tests were ordered and a competency hearing was scheduled for March 9.

Mendez pleaded not guilty in September to first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder and seven other counts in unrelated crimes.

Simmons, Ballentine and three other players at Washburn University in Topeka, were shot at as they celebrated after Ballentine was drafted by the Giants earlier in the day. Three other players in the group were not injured.

Ballentine missed the Giants rookie camp last season as he recovered from his injuries but made the team as a cornerback and kick returner.