Sonam Choden, a 33-year-old resident of El Cerrito, California, tragically lost her life on April 2, 2012, in a mass shooting at Oikos University in Oakland. Choden, who had moved to the Bay Area from India, was pursuing a nursing career at the university. She had previously worked for the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, and was deeply involved in the Tibetan-American community in the Bay Area.
Her death, along with six others, cast a pall over the community, which had seen many of its members attend Oikos University for nursing and other healthcare-related studies.
The perpetrator of the shooting was One Goh, a former student of Oikos University. Goh had left the school voluntarily but returned on April 2, 2012, armed and with the intent to cause harm. He opened fire, killing seven people, including Choden, and wounding three others. Goh's motive was reportedly linked to his dissatisfaction with the school and a desire for a refund of his tuition fees. He was arrested shortly after the shooting and confessed to the crime.
Following his arrest, Goh faced multiple charges, including seven counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. The legal proceedings were complex, with Goh's mental competency to stand trial being a significant issue. In October 2012, a judge suspended the criminal proceedings and ordered two psychiatric evaluations to determine Goh's mental state. The evaluations were necessary to assess whether Goh could understand the charges against him and participate in his defense.
The case against Goh highlighted the challenges of addressing mental health issues within the criminal justice system. His defense attorney expressed doubts about Goh's competency, and the court's decision to suspend proceedings underscored the importance of ensuring that defendants are mentally fit to stand trial. The tragic events at Oikos University and the subsequent legal battles brought attention to the need for better mental health support and the complexities of prosecuting individuals with potential mental health issues.
