Loughner Enters Guilty Plea in Tuscon Shootings
Jared Lee Loughner, who attempted to assassinate Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and succeeded in killing six other people, has entered a guilty plea with the Arizona courts. He was judged to be competent to enter the plea.
Loughner has pleaded guilty to 19 counts in the mass shooting.
Walking with a bit of a slouch, Loughner cast a sneer at the packed gallery when he entered the courtroom. During the guilty plea proceedings, the gallery was quiet, with some people sniffing and wiping away tears.
An order from the court indicating the planned change of pleas was released Monday.
Loughner had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, including murder and attempted murder.
The January 8, 2011, attack killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Giffords, who was holding a meet-and-greet event with constituents. Among those killed was Arizona’s chief federal judge, John Roll.
Giffords, who was shot in the head, stepped down from her position in Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery. Ron Barber, an aide also wounded in the attack, now holds the seat.Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly, said in a statement Tuesday that he and his wife are satisfied with the agreement.
“The pain and loss caused by the events of January 8, 2011 are incalculable,” Kelly said. “Avoiding a trial will allow us — and we hope the whole Southern Arizona community — to continue with our recovery and move forward with our lives.”
Loughner was facing the possibility of a death sentence if convicted.
Prosecutors have said that Loughner, who spent time on suicide watch, suffers from schizophrenia. His mental condition has been central to much of the related court proceedings since the shooting.In February, a federal judge ruled Loughner could receive medical treatment for another four months. A psychologist found “measurable progress” in the suspect’s condition.