A Howard County District Court judge ordered yesterday a state-administered psychiatric examination for an Ellicott City man charged in the shooting of his mother Friday morning.

Antwan C. Morgan, 24, of the 3300 block of N. Chatham Road is charged in the shooting of his mother, Gwendolyn L. Hebron, 40, in their apartment about 2: 35 a.m.

Police said he held off officers for the next 14 hours. About 50 Howard, Prince George's and Laurel police officers responded to the standoff, which ended after police threw tear gas and pepper gas into the apartment.

Morgan is charged on five counts, including attempted first-degree murder, and is being held without bail, police said.

His attorney, Evelyn O. A. Darden, asked Judge James Vaughan yesterday to consider an evaluation, saying Morgan's family noticed a change in his behavior in the months before the shooting. Darden said Morgan suffered mood swings, had become withdrawn and refused to seek help.

"His behavior in the last several months proves indicative of a problem," Darden said. "It worried the family, but he is an adult. They could not force him" to seek help.

Vaughan agreed to an exam and said it could help officials determine "whether someplace other than jail is where he should be."

Morgan -- who appeared via two-way television from the county detention center -- was motionless during the hearing. His father and aunt attended the proceeding.

Officials said the evaluation could take up to 30 days.

His mother remains in serious condition at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

Pub Date: 3/02/99