The person charged with a series of shootings in Raleigh will likely face a mental health evaluation before any trial, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said.

Whether Andrew Graney was mentally ill is a question on the minds of prosecutors, the public and Graney's family and friends. Police allege Graney is the person who fired on cars and homes along Interstate 40 south of downtown Raleigh over four days, injuring one woman.

Other WRAL Top Stories

Two students who were friends with Graney at North Carolina State University told WRAL News that their concerns prompted them to refer Graney to the campus resource for students in crisis.

Hannah, who asked that WRAL not use her last name, said Graney was "saying things that didn't make sense ... would send long messages in group chat ... believed he was unlocking all these secrets to the universe."

When Graney started taking about a fifth and a sixth dimension and asking Hannah and others to be "disciples," she and another student reported their concerns to NC State CARES.

NC State Cares is a program that supports students in crisis or who have been referred as exhibiting concerning or worrisome behavior and whose behavior does not indicate a direct threat of harm to the NC State community.

Hannah said, "We filed this because we were concerned about drug use, mental health, and that he would hurt himself."

They got a letter in response that said NC State had reviewed their information and would reach out to Graney to share resources, or meet via Zoom or in person as needed.

Hannah said she was shocked last week when she saw Graney's mug shot on TV and heard about the charges that stemmed from the series of shootings.

"We tried to report this," she said.

Hannah said she thinks the system failed the person who was once her friend.

Graney will spend at least the next few months in jail while prosecutors build their case.

District Judge Debra Sasser ordered Graney held without bond, citing the terror the series of shootings caused in the community. “This is one of those cases that put fear in the heart of the entire community,” Sasser said.

Graney's lawyer could request bond in the future, Freeman said, but Graney would need to prove he is not a danger to the public.

One of the shots struck a woman in the leg early Monday while she was traveling on I-40, police said. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening. Most of the cars that were shot contained only the driver, but one had four occupants, authorities said in court records. People were also in the homes when they were shot, police said.

Freeman told WRAL News, "Anytime we have situations where there is broad gun violence in community, we want people to be in their homes and go about their daily lives and be safe."

Graney, 23, is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to kill or inflict serious injury and 11 counts of firing a weapon into an occupied vehicle or dwelling. The first charge carries a mandatory jail sentence.

Graney's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 27.