Arizona Shooter
On Monday, January 10, 2011, President Barak Obama and first lady Michelle Obama stood outside the White House and led the nation in a moment of silence. President Obama asked Americans to pray for those that were killed and those that were recovering from the tragic shooting in Arizona. The same day, America got their first look at the alleged killer.
Jared Loughner, 22, stood before an Arizona judge with a shaved bald head and wearing a beige prison jumpsuit. He is charged with two counts of killing a federal employee, one count of attempted murder of a federal employee, and one count of attempted murder of a member of Congress. It is said that more charges are to come.
On Saturday, January 8, Loughner described as ‘a deeply troubled young man,’ by neighbors, opened fire on a political rally at a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona held by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Six people were killed by Loughner’s gunfire including federal judge John Roll. Fourteen others were injured including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot through the brain.
Loughner has a very troubled past. He tried to join the military but was rejected due to failing a drug test. He was also arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia in 2007.
Loughner is described as ‘obsessed with violence and having paranoia about the government.’ He wrote on his You Tube page, “The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar.”
Caitlin Parker, a friend of Jared Loughner, said that Loughner met and spoke with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords back in 2007 and from then on, he seemed obsessed with her. When Loughner met Giffords he asked her a question but Giffords replied with a vague answer which frustrated Loughner. According to Loughner’s friends, his underlying question was, “What is government if words have no meaning?” According to the Associated Press, one of Loughner’s friends said that Loughner posed the question, “What do you think of these people who are working for the government and can’t describe what they do?” When police searched Loughner’s home, they found an envelope where he had written the words “I planned ahead” “My assassination” and “Giffords.”
Loughner has remained tight lipped from the time of the shooting until his first court appearance. He has been denied bail and his next court appearance is slated for January 24, 2011. Loughner could receive the death penalty for his crimes.
None of the public defenders in Tucson would defend Loughner because they were familiar with murder victim Judge John Roll. Loughner found an attorney in Judy Clark, who has experience in possible death penalty cases. She has defended the Unibomber, Ted Kaczynski and Susan Smith, the mother that drowned her two children.
It is said that Loughner might use the insanity defense to justify his actions. The insanity defense has two parts. First, was Loughner insane when he committed the crime? Secondly, is he so insane that he should receive life in prison over the death penalty? Because Loughner left a note stating that he was planning to kill Giffords, his actions were premeditated.
