MASSENA -- The former Massena Wellness Center director accused of murder said during a court appearance that he believes he killed Donald Trump, according to his attorney, James Baker of Ithaca.

Justin Barkley, 38, was arraigned Monday in Tompkins County Court on an indictment for second-degree murder. He is accused of killing 52-year-old William Schumacher on Dec. 8 in the Ithaca Walmart parking lot by shooting him with a .30-.06 rifle and running him over with his car. He is also charged with menacing a police officer for firing a shot near police after they chased Barkley to his Dryden home following Schumacher’s death.

“Mr. Barkley attempted to enter a plea of guilty … after some conversation the judge decided if a 730 exam were performed before entering a plea,” Baker said.

A 730 exam is a mental health evaluation conducted by two psychiatrists to determine if the defendant is competent to stand trial.

Baker said Barkley told the court he knew President-Elect Donald Trump would be in the Ithaca Walmart parking lot on Dec. 8 and went there to kill him. Barkley told the court he knew the difference between mistaking someone for Trump and asserting that he actually killed him, according to Baker. He was asked if any evidence presented could suggest Barkley may have killed someone else, to which the defendant replied “I hope not,” his attorney confirmed.

The Ithaca Journal reported that Barkley confessed to the killing in a recorded interview.

He is being held at the Tompkins County jail without bail.

The New York State Office of Mental Health said Barkley, a Madrid-Waddington graduate, had resigned his position at the Massena Wellness Center prior to the murder.

“Justin Barkley was not employed by the state of New York at the time of this incident. This former employee was a licensed master social worker from September 2008 until May 2016 at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, where his final position was program director of the Massena Wellness Center,” according to Ben Rosen, OMH Public Information Office director. “In May 2016, he voluntarily left St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center for a position with the Office of Children and Family Services.”

He began working at The Office of Children and Family Services’ Finger Lakes Residential Center on May 4 and resigned effective Aug. 8, said Monica Mahaffey, New York State Office of Children & Family Services assistant commissioner for communications.