From the U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona on Aug. 7, 2012:
Jared Lee Loughner, 23, of Tucson, Ariz.,
pleaded guilty today in federal district court to charges stemming from the
January 8, 2011 shooting outside a supermarket that killed six people and
wounded 13 others. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Loughner will
be sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole.
"It is my hope that this decision will allow
the Tucson community, and the nation, to continue the healing process free of
what would likely be extended trial and pre-trial proceedings that would not
have a certain outcome. The prosecutors and agents assigned to this matter have
done an outstanding job and have ensured that justice has been done," said
Attorney General Eric Holder. "In making the determination not to seek the
death penalty, I took into consideration the views of the victims and survivor
families, the recommendations of the prosecutors assigned to the case, and the
applicable law."
"Given the defendant's history of significant
mental illness, this plea agreement, which requires the defendant to spend the
remainder of his natural life in prison, with no possibility of parole, is a
just and appropriate resolution of this case," said U.S. Attorney John S.
Leonardo. "I hope that today's resolution of this case will help the victims,
their families, and the entire Tucson community take another step forward in
the process of healing and recovering from this sad and tragic event."
"Today, we remember the victims and their
families who tragically lost their lives on January 8, 2011, as well as those
in the Tucson community who were greatly affected by this senseless tragedy,"
stated FBI Special Agent in Charge James L. Turgal Jr., Phoenix Division. "I
would like to thank the Pima County Sheriff's Office and the United States Attorney's
Office who we worked side-by-side with on every aspect of this joint
investigation. I would also like to thank all of our federal, state and
local law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in this
case. The partnerships that we have throughout Arizona enabled the FBI to
have a coordinated response which resulted in a comprehensive and thorough
investigation—all which has led up to today's plea agreement."
According to the plea agreement, on January
8, 2011 Loughner showed up at Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' "Congress on
Your Corner" event outside the Safeway grocery store in Tucson armed with a
loaded semi-automatic pistol and carrying three additional magazines containing
60 rounds of ammunition with the intent of killing Congresswoman Giffords and
others attending her community event.
Shortly after arriving at the event that
Saturday morning, Loughner shot Congresswoman Giffords in the head, and then
shot several other people who were in attendance. As a result of the shooting,
six individuals were killed and 13 people, including Congresswoman Giffords
were injured, some seriously.
Through a plea agreement, Loughner pleaded
guilty to 19 counts of the superseding indictment handed down March 3, 2011,
consisting of the following crimes:
- The attempted
assassination of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle D. Giffords;
- The murders of
federal employees U.S. District Court Chief Judge John M. Roll and
Congressional Aide Gabriel M. Zimmerman;
- The attempted
murders of federal employees and Congressional Aides Ronald S. Barber and
Pamela K. Simon;
- Causing the
deaths of Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy J. Morris, Phyllis C. Schneck, and
Dorwan C. Stoddard, all of whom were participants at an activity provided by
the United States;
- Injuring through
the use of a Glock pistol Bill D. Badger, Kenneth W. Dorushka, James E. Fuller,
Randy W. Gardner, Susan A. Hileman, George S. Morris, Mary C. Reed, Mavanell
Stoddard, James L. Tucker, and Kenneth L. Veeder, Sr., all of whom were
participants at an activity provided by the United States;
Loughner also admitted that in committing
these offenses, he knowingly created a grave risk of death to Carol A.
Dorushka, Robert C. Gawlick, Daniel Hernandez, Mark S. Kimble, Patricia R.
Maisch, Emma E. McMahon, Owen A. McMahon, Thomas J. McMahon, Sara M. Rajca,
Faith M. Salzgeber, Roger D. Salzgeber, Doris Tucker and Alexander J. Villec.
Under the terms of the plea agreement,
Loughner will be sentenced to seven consecutive life sentences, followed by 140
years in prison, as follows:
Loughner will be sentenced to a term of life in prison for each of the
following crimes:
- The attempted
assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle D. Giffords;
- The murders of
federal employees U.S. District Court Chief Judge John M. Roll and
Congressional Aide Gabriel M. Zimmerman; and
- Causing the
deaths of Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy J. Morris, Phyllis C. Shneck, and
Dorwan C. Stoddard, all of whom were participants at an activity provided by
the United States.
Loughner will also be sentenced to the maximum term of 20 years in prison for
each of the attempted murders of Congressional Aides Ronald S. Barber and
Pamela K. Simon.
Finally, Loughner will be sentenced to the maximum term of 10 years in prison
for injuring through the use of a Glock pistol each of the following:
- Bill D. Badger;
- Kenneth W.
Dorushka;
- James E. Fuller;
- Randy W.
Gardner;
- Susan A.
Hileman;
- George S.
Morris;
- Mary C. Reed;
- Mavanell
Stoddard;
- James L. Tucker;
and
- Kenneth L.
Veeder, Sr.
Convictions for the attempted assassination
of a member of Congress, the murder of a federal employee, and causing the
death of a participant in a federally-provided activity each carry a maximum
sentence of life in prison (or death in the
case of murder), a $250,000 fine or both. A conviction for the attempted murder
of a federal employee carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a
$250,000 fine or both. A conviction for injuring a participant in a
federally-provided activity carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a
$250,000 fine or both. In determining an actual sentence, U.S. District Judge
Larry A. Burns will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide
appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines
in determining a sentence.
Sentencing is set before Judge Burns on
November 15, 2012, at 10:00 am in Tucson, Ariz..
The investigation in
this case was conducted by the FBI and the Pima County, Ariz., Sheriff's
Office. The prosecution is being handled by Wallace H. Kleindenst and Mary Sue
Feldmeier, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson, with the
assistance of C.J. Williams, who served as trial attorney with the Department
of Justice's Criminal Division, Christina M. Cabanillas, Appellate Chief, and
Bruce Ferg, Assistant U.S. Attorney (Appellate), District of Arizona, Tucson.
Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
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