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August 8, 2012

Jared Loughner Pleads Guilty to Tucson Shootings 
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Arizona shooter Jared Loughner has pleaded guilty over the rampage in
Tucson last year that killed six people and wounded 13 others, including
former Democratic Congressmember Gabrielle Giffords. Under a plea deal,
Loughner will spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of
parole. John Leonardo, the U.S. attorney for Arizona, said prosecutors
decided not to seek the death penalty due to the state of Loughner's
mental health.
John Leonardo: "The doctors who have treated and observed Mr. Loughner
since the shooting agree that he suffered from a severe mental illness,
that is severe schizophrenia at the time of the shooting and before the
shooting. Mr. Loughner's condition was not diagnosed or treated. In
deciding to allow this plea agreement, not only the defendant's past and
mental state but also the fragility of his continued competency to stand
trial was taken into account."
Loughner was initially declared unfit to stand trial after undergoing
psychiatric evaluation. Prosecutors say they reached the plea deal in
consultation with the shooting survivors and the victims' families.
Shooting victim Suzi Hileman said she backs the plea deal.
Suzi Hileman: "Today's events make me very proud to be an American. This
was the system, this was the system doing it's best. It's not a perfect
solution. The perfect solution is one that we can't have. What we want
is not available to us. This is the best that can be expected."

 

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