A Hilo district judge has ordered a 49-year-old Puna man suspected of fatally shooting his wife and two young children to undergo an evaluation of his mental fitness by a panel of doctors.

Charged with first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and two firearm charges, John Ali Hoffman made his first appearance in Hilo District Court on Monday.

Hoffman told Judge Harry Freitas he did not understand the court proceedings, that he needed to be released as a matter of national security, and asked the judge to recuse himself.

Brian DeLima, a court-appointed lawyer representing Hoffman, said he requested that the judge order a panel of doctors to examine his client on his fitness to proceed to trial.

The judge granted the request for an examination and ordered the reports be prepared by June 7. Further proceedings will be held June 14.

Hoffman remains in custody, unable to post $2.75 million bail.

According to court documents, Hoffman called police at about 1:30 a.m. Friday and reported that three to four intruders entered his home and shot his 40-year-old wife and two children, ages 5 and 7.

Officers responding to the call saw Hoffman leave the house in a car without its headlights on. They stopped him and allegedly found a handgun on the passenger seat. They saw blood on him and blood dripping from the trunk and discovered the body of a woman inside with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.

Upon searching the Leilani Estates home at 13-3307 Moku St., police found the children’s bodies, both with a gunshot wound to the head.

Hawaii County police Monday identified Hoffman’s wife, Aracely, formerly known as Aracely Monroy Urruela. The couple married in March 2008, documents showed. Police have not yet identified the children.

Hoffman’s sister Sumayah Hodges told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Friday that the couple’s daughter was named Clara Mae but was called “C.J.,” and their son was John Hoffman IV.

Court documents show Hoffman has lived in Hawaii for 16 years.

Hodges said a search of Hoffman’s house in 2008, during which a small amount of marijuana was found, began a downward spiral for him. Hoffman later lost his refuse business and home.

Subsequently, Hoffman was mired in a land dispute. In 2014 a judge ruled in favor of the property owners, canceling an agreement of sale with Hoffman and having him removed from the property.

On April 28 Hoffman posted a message on Facebook in which he stated that judges were plotting to have him killed, making references to the property case.

DeLima said he was appointed to represent Hoffman because the public defender withdrew, citing an inability to communicate with him.