MANASSAS, Va. — The man accused of shooting and killing his cousin and her friend must go through another mental health evaluation before a preliminary hearing.
Edward Jackson Bland, 36, appeared in court on Monday for his two counts of second-degree murder charge. His defense attorney requested a second evaluation regarding his sanity at the time of the offense.
An earlier mental health evaluation determined he was found to be competent to stand trial.
Court documents revealed Bland confessed to shooting and killing his cousin Leann Harris, 34, and her friend Asia Payne, 22, in early April. An arrest affidavit warrant read, "It was a robbery. They had to die."
Prince William County Police said Bland initially carjacked a person at gunpoint outside the Westgate Apartments in Manassas before he walked into the apartment to kill both ladies.
Authorities said the car broke down in Shenandoah County where he walked into a gas station and told the clerk to dial 911 because he was wanted. Deputies learned the car was stolen.
“He did it,” Leann Harris’ mother May Twyman told WUSA9. “He admitted to doing it. Let’s get the ball moving.”
“He came in the room with a smug look in his face with no remorse for our daughter at all,” she added. “I’m angry. I’m very angry.”
Despite the confession mentioned in court records, Bland’s other cousin believes he’s innocent.
Following the court hearing, the cousin, who only wanted to go by his first name Charles, said the cousins were close.
“Why would he kill his own cousin?” Charles asked. “His own blood. His own people. I know he didn’t do it because he talked to me about it. I believe my cousin.”
Meanwhile, Harris’ father said it’s still hard for the family to cope with the loss.
“We’re still hurting,” he said. “I’d like to go to sleep at night at some point.”
The next court hearing is on July 22 at 1:30 p.m. The Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office said it expects to set a date for the preliminary hearing at that time.