NORTHAMPTON — A 29-year-old Northampton man who claimed his dog told him to shoot his neighbors with an AK-47 will receive further psychiatric evaluation to see if he is fit to stand trial, a judge ruled in Hampshire District Court on Thursday.

According to Northampton police, on Dec. 7 Joshua Martinelli of 6 Wright Ave. in Northampton fired several rounds of an AK-47-style weapon into the walls of the two-story home. Four adults inside the adjoining home at 8 Wright Ave. were not injured, although one of the adults later found a bullet hole that had gone through his pants without touching him.

When police arrived at the scene, they detained Martinelli and asked who he was shooting at. Martinelli said the neighbors were trying to poison his dog. After being transported for booking, Martinelli told investigators his dog had told him to kill the neighbors, the police report states. The dog had been with Martinelli at the time of the shooting.

In addition to four assault to murder charges, Martinelli is charged with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon; one count of animal cruelty; destruction of property; possession of an assault weapon; possession of a large capacity firearm; possession of a large capacity feeding device; improper storage of a large capacity firearm; possession of a firearm without an FID card; and possession of ammunition without an FID card.

Martinelli appeared for Thursday’s detention hearing wearing a black hoodie over a prison jumpsuit with his ankles chained together.

Marika Faytell Grimm, a forensic psychologist, told Judge Danielle Williams during the hearing that Martinelli demonstrated a factual understanding of the case, but that he also expressed delusional beliefs that impacted his rational decision-making. She requested that further evaluation be conducted to see if Martinelli is competent to stand trial and if he holds criminal responsibility in the case, and Williams granted the request.

Martinelli continues to be held without bail and will be back in court on Jan. 2. Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington represents the commonwealth and defense attorney Thomas Glynn of Northampton represents Martinelli.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.