E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe gunman who killed six people and tried to assassinated U.S. congresswoman Gabby Giffords showed no emotion in court as a judge sentenced him to life in prison. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The man who pleaded guilty to a deadly Arizona shooting rampage that wounded former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been sentenced to life in prison.
Ross D. Franklin / AP
Former Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, left, and her husband, Mark Kelly, leave U.S. District Court in Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday, Nov. 8, after the sentencing of Jared Loughner.
U.S. District Judge Larry Burns sentenced 24-year-old Jared Lee Loughner on Thursday for the January 2011 attack that left six people dead and Giffords and others wounded.
Loughner pleaded guilty to federal charges under an agreement that guarantees he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. He received seven life terms, one for each death and one for the attempt on Giffords' life, plus 140 years.
Giffords hugged her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, after the sentencing was handed down.
Loughner showed little response to the sentence.
The hearing marked the first time victims -- including Giffords -- could confront Loughner in court. Her husband spoke on her behalf, saying Loughner changed his wife's life forever but couldn't dent her spirit.
At the courtroom podium, Giffords held Kelly’s hand silently and stared directly at Loughner as Kelly addressed him in a stern tone, NBC News reported.
"That bright and chilly morning you killed six innocent people," Kelly said. "Gabby would trade her own life to save any of those you savagely murdered that day."
Kelly then named the six victims and talked a little about each. Afterward he said:
"Then there's Gabby... Now she struggles to deliver each and every sentence ... Gabby struggles to walk. Her right arm is paralyzed. She is partially blind."
"Mr. Loughner, by making death and producing tragedy ... you tried to extinguish life ... But know this and remember always -- you failed. You may have put a bullet through her head, but you haven't put a dent in her spirit and commitment ... " ...
"You have decades upon decades to contemplate what you did. But after today. After this moment. Here and now. Gabby and I are done thinking about you.
Kelly also lambasted elected officials for their positions on gun control, naming Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer as one of many "feckless" state elected leaders who "look at gun violence,not as a problem to solve, but as the white elephant in the room to ignore."
Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson declined comment on the criticism leveled against the governor.
"This is a day of justice and peace," he said.
Read Mark Kelly's complete testimony as prepared for delivery
Loughner, asked at the outset of the hearing by Burns if he had chosen to waive his right to make a statement, answered in a low voice, "That's true."
He was otherwise silent as he sat next to his lawyer, Judy Clarke.
Clarke put her hand on Loughner's arm after Kelly spoke, a contrast to last year when the defendant spat on his lawyer from his jail cell, NBC News reported.
Other survivors also addressed Loughner.
"You forgot to shoot yourself," Mavanell Stoddard, whose husband died shielding her from bullets, told Loughner, according to a reporter from The Arizona Republic.
Suzi Hileman, who was shot three times while trying to save her 9-year-old neighbor, told Loughner she would think of him as dead. "You turned a civics lesson into a nightmare."
The 24-year-old Loughner pleaded guilty three months ago to 19 federal charges under a plea agreement.
Both sides reached the deal after a judge declared that Loughner was able to understand the charges against him. After the shooting, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and underwent forcible psychotropic drug treatments.
Some victims, including Giffords, welcomed the deal as a way to move on. It spared victims and their families from having to go through a potentially lengthy and traumatic trial and locks up the defendant for life.
Christina Pietz, the court-appointed psychologist who treated Loughner, had warned that although Loughner was competent to plead guilty, he remained severely mentally ill and his condition could deteriorate under the stress of a trial.
When Loughner first arrived at a Missouri prison facility for treatment, he was convinced Giffords was dead, even though he was shown a video of the shooting. He eventually realized she was alive after he was forcibly medicated.
'Home for good': Giffords, husband move back to Tucson
It's unknown whether Pima County prosecutors, who have discretion on whether to seek the death penalty against Loughner, will file state charges against him. Stephanie Coronado, a spokeswoman for Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, said Wednesday that no decision had been made.
It's also unclear where Loughner will be sent to serve his federal sentence. He could return to a prison medical facility like the one in Springfield, Mo., where he's been treated for more than a year. Or he could end up in a prison such as the federal lockup in Florence, Colo., that houses some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols and "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski.
The exact placement will depend on the nature of his mental illness and its treatment.
Saul Loeb / EPA
A look at the Arizona lawmaker's rise to prominence — from high school to Capitol Hill.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Hail to the chief: Americans eyed in search for Britain's top rabbi
- 1 in 31 no more: Gay rights movement ends dismal record
- Man admits Election Day burglary of Nancy Pelosi house, cops say
- Governor to potheads: 'Don't break out the Cheetos'
- Report: Dad says he put poison on dead son's pizza
- Zoo officials: Toddler's death in Pittsburgh shows no zoo is 100 percent safe
- Post Superstorm Sandy, travelers prepare for a busy Thanksgiving
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
He should have pleaded the 2nd Amendment. That's a license to circumvent the democratic process and fire your gun at any politician you disagree with. The other victims would be regarded as collateral damage while exercising your constitutional rights.
Does the word radical mean anything to you. No? Look in the mirror you will see one. Perhaps you should plant a bomb and prove your point.
Funny, when I look in my mirror, I see a Devil's Advocate. Taking an argument to its extreme is a good way of showing its fallacy.
Johnny: You got the first sentence right in reply.
bob-24. I agree. All arguments in favor of the 2nd Amendment are from the devil.
Johnny Marre - It must be hard to wake up and post such ignorant, idiotic statements such as the one you posted. Tell me, do you have to actually work at being such a moron? Or do you simply have zero education when it comes to our 2nd amendment and why it was put there in the first place?
My bad, you are just trolling. And here I was taking you seriously.
Carry on...
Johnny Marre---Second Amendment has nothing to do with a possible plea by an insane person. It has a lot more to do with innocent Mexican Nationals who have no Second Amendment rights and so are at the mercy of the drug cartels who have taken over whole areas of northern Mexico. If you want to talk about things of the devil, talk about how the drug cartels in Mexico have set up their own religion --Santa Muerta, and how those cartels FORCE innocent Mexican Nationals to mule drugs into the USA on pain of death for themselves and their family members if they refuse. What Lautner did was horrible and I hope he spends the rest of his life in jail (since death penalty is not what the prosecution has chosen in this case).
BTW, Borderlands is right--you are a troll. But just in case there are any others out there who do not truly understand why the Second Amendment was put in the Bill of Rights to begin with, the Mexican drug cartels are a good modern day example of why.
@Johnny Marre,
You should have known the cerebral nature of your quite paradoxical and humorous comment would go right over the top of their little heads.
Johnny Marre's commit was not cerebral, paradoxical or humorous. It was irrelevant.
For you to find any connection with the 2nd Amendment shows you are either stupid or you just hate guns and the owners of guns.
Yeah Lisa!
Docjt: Impressive. The impetuous post shows a misunderstanding of the material.
So sad the way the other victims are ignored by the media. I do agree that it would be best just to put him in front of a firing squad. The way it is, taxpayers get the privilege of supporting this idiot and paying for his meds the rest of his life.
Agree-my post #28
The other victims are private citizens and get to choose whether or not they want the media invading their lives.
Why is this guy being referred to as "Gifford's gunman"? She lived, six people died.
I am sorry but I find it objectionable. He is the murderer of innocent people.
Just saying.
Because his purpose for doing what he did was to kill her. He had no other agenda that day. If she hadn't been there, then he wouldn't have either.
His purpose led to the deaths of innocent civilians that had nothing to do with the primary target. Even though his purpose had one target, he inflicted collateral that should not be ignored.
It isn't ignored. They are speaking at his sentencing hearing, there have been memorials erected in their names. People here (on the vine) are complaining about Loughner being labeled as "Giffords' gunman", which is exactly what he was. The other victims, however, don't seem to have the same problem with that label that the viners do on their behalf.
And why does the media conviently forget that he fatally shot a Republican judge point blank in the head? A federal judge that Loughner has sent death-threats to previously... what an inconvenient truth for those who want to paint him as a right-wing gun-nut!
This case is the best arguement I have ever heard for maintaining the option of the death penalty - it gets people like this to plead guilty to avoid it, agree to life without parole (and without appeals) and spare the victims and their families the horrors of the modern American court and trial systems. He is locked away forever and the victims and families do not have live with the anxiety that this case will go on for years and decades.
america is becoming the most f-up country in the world . It is Godless by90% there was a servey that 80 % of americans said they were christans well 70 % of them are liers because it the 80 % was true obama would have lost,all dem. would have lost because christans are compelled to vote there faith,and if they did killers like this would be put to death as soon as the trial was over,or the plea of guilty was made they want to take our guns away from us which would stop nothing. If someone in the crowd had had a gun less people would have died.
PUT THIS MAN TO DEATH,and save the 35k a year it will take to keep him up,and that is with out meds.
You should seek help.. pure and simple.
I seriously feel for the twisted logic caged up in your brain.
Miers - consider a night school course on English. Then maybe try cracking a bible to read up on what Christ said.
By your logic, he was a pro-death-penalty, gun-toting republican.
There's really nothing wrong with YOU being republican, pro-gun, and pro-death-penalty. But it's offensive to say people who aren't are somehow liars and non-christians.
Miers,You are not a Christian if you advocate the death penalty for the mentally ill.The election is over,I voted for Romney,he lost,I'm over it like yesterday.
The death penalty is a choice. liberals should like it. If you don't want to suffer it, don't murder someone, very simple logic and easy to avoid. Then you can blame the death penalty on murderers who chose to receive it.
Seven consecutive life sentences plus 140 years.
Well, if only he could live long enough to see that miserable sentence fully carried out, less one year.
The death penalty is too good for a guy like this.
The DP is not about being good or bad... it is ensuring someone like this never walks among any society ever again. Wishing torment and torture upon someone is worse than asking for the DP. It makes you a culpable, vindictive person... just like the criminal.
I have to wonder about the effectiveness of confronting one who is so desperately mentally ill- but if it helps the victims feel better-go for it. People in this country dont understand mental illness at all. As a society we need to address it, and only then will so many of these horrible tragedies go away.
Your mentality has been going on for centuries so tell me... how better off are we today than say, 150 years ago? 150 years ago hanging someone was not uncommon and statistically by ratio alone, crime has sky rocketed since.
Again enlighten me how your perspective on this matter has actually limited and shrunk violent crime.
Borderlands,
Please do back up your claims with valid and reliable research and statistics indicating that abolishing death by hanging is the ONLY variable affecting crime rates in the past 150 years.
Please don't refer to others as ignorant or shallow until you correct those two weaknesses in your own arguments.
rapidrush,I agree with you.The hateful and vindictive comments directed at a person who hears voices that tell him to do an evil act.People can't believe how fragile the human mind is and how any of them could end up with mental health issues due to something simple as going to war,having an accident.They won't suffer from schizophrenia but they could very well suffer from an anger disorder which could lead them to do exactly what this young man did.It is disgraceful to know that there are such ignorant and hateful people in the world who think that any non perfect person should be put to dearth.
My hope and prayer is that when this POS goes to prison that there will be some other criminal in prison that will beat him to death, because of the fact that one of the people he murdered was an 8 year old child, with a broomstick, or whatever is available, like that guy that beat Jeffrey Dahmer to death did!!!
I'd pay good money to watch the security video of it. Of course, it would be best if there were a "camera failure" while Loughner was being shanked.
Oh, well if he's been treated for schizophrenia just let him go. Mental illness is just that, an illness. Once it's over he should be perfectly safe to let back into society. Think of it like you would the flu - if you have the flu and pass it on to someone who dies from it, it's not your fault! It's the sicknesses fault. Same thing!
(This is sarcasm for those of you who cannot recognize it. He should covered in chicken fat and staked down on top of a fire ant mound until dead - an "insane" killer is still a KILLER.)
He is a Mass murderer. Caught at the scene with the "smoking gun". Whether he is sane or insane, I do not care. He is a violent person. HE IS A MASS MURDERER! Why not immediate execution after sentencing so they can not hurt any one ever again in our out of incarceration.
In 1988-89 Richard Wade Farley murdered 7 people and wounded (tortured) 4 or 5. He was another "smoking gun" case. He is still alive living off our tax dollar taking up space and money that should be better used elsewhere.
There are several MASS MURDERERS out there dong the same thing, why?
Turn the other cheek nothin..... kill the BASTARD!
This is a good argument for better Psychological screening of people in general. This guy was really really crazy and should have been medicated before he got so bad he want on a killing spree.
HOW can you anti death-penalty folks look at this and think this is acceptable?
If you have to ask such a question, you are beyond the reach of an explanation.
skydivr,I am a death penalty advocate for the mentally sane people.the mentally ill without their meds are not in control of their minds.There are many books online and the library that will educate you on this disorder that is called schizophrenia.
Plus, he probably has perfectly viable organs that could be better used than keeping him alive in prison.
That whole family should be so shamed that they crawl on their hands and knees the rest of their miserable short lives. Line up the whole lot of 'em! That'll be a real deterrent.
Why does Giffords get top billing on the victims' list? The shooter murdered a Republican federal judge with a shot point-blank to the head. Why does that little detail get left out? Oh yeah, because the left-wing media wants to tell the story of a right-wing nut who shot a Democrat Congresswoman in order to promote an anti-right wing/ anti-gun rights view...
Ell the media played up big for obama that is why. Remember how Giffords suddenly came out of her coma and looked up at obama when he spoke to her? What a crock. There is no sense decency ion the obama media. This was all about Giffords and Obama
Because trying to killing her was the reason he did it, is why. Not every single thing is a conspiracy.
Loughner had repeatedly mailed death threats to the Republican federal judge whom he shot and killed that day. The Democrat was not his only target nor necessarily his main targret. She's just the only one whom the Democrat-biased media cares about.
I bet if we REALLY try we can execute enough people to make this a peaceful country again!
-Pol Pot
Life in prison is cruel punishment. He should be executed by firing squad made up of his victims and family or their proxy. That would indeed be justice.
Every murderer has mental illness of some form, all of them should be put to death for 1st degree murder. There is nothing inhumane about this punishment, inhumane is locking them up forever. America used to have a good system for executing for first degree murder and this should be brought back to protect society. There should not ever be a new life in prison for a convicted first degree murderer, they must go to the gallows. Can anyone believe that John Hinkley, the person who killed a policeman is allowed to walk free on week ends?
Hopefully, some day in the future, someone will throw a gasoline-filled tire around Hinkley's neck and light it off.
You are the most evil person that has ever posted their comments.You actually should be barred from this blog.
With all the jobs we send overseas, I wish we would outsource our murderous prisoners to some dank 3rd world hellhole to serve their lifetime sentences. Worse than death and cheaper too.
Finally stick it to Castro for sending all of his to Florida!
Strange, I thought they only let Giffords out of the house when the Democrats need the sympathy vote.
You and your sick, twisted, sore loser mind really suck, buddy. And probably all of your family and friends, too.
buck,
A crazy right wing tea party schizo shoots up a bunch of innocent people and you are gonna crack wise on one of the victims?? I DARE you to say that to someone who was there. Bet you'd have a couple of new orifices before you finished. Punk.
Ima drink a big ole toast when his parents finally kill themselves. Three people the world would be better off without.
What am I missing here? Why are wanting his parents dead so badly?
The REAL insanity of this situation, lies in the way people insist on addressing a mentally-ill person as if he's got all his mental faculties and can totally understand what they're saying, and why they are saying it.
NOW who's the REAL crazy person - the person who's crazy, or the person who insists the crazy person just "straighten up and act right"?
Actually, the REAL crazy person seems to be you.
Say it with me: "Mental" "Illness". Now let someone read to you, using itty-bitty words and going real slow, about "Mental" "Illness", and what it means.
Great to know taxpayers will be footing the bill for his food, shelter and clothing for the rest of his worthless life. For those of you knuckleheads that don't believe in capital punishment, you should pay a higher tax rate so you can sleep better at night. For the cost of a bullet, he's dead which would be appropriate but now we'll be paying thousands to keep this maggot alive. No wonder states/cities are broke.