Jared Lee Loughner Reportedly Set to Plead Guilty - East Idaho News
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Jared Lee Loughner Reportedly Set to Plead Guilty

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N 011011 TucsonShooterLoughnerMugshot 2?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1344247050845Pima County Sheriff’s Department(NEW YORK) — The man accused in the January 2011 shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz., that left six people dead and 13 wounded, including former Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, is set to plead guilty in court Tuesday, reports the Wall Street Journal.

A source familiar with the case told the newspaper that Jared Lee Loughner, who has been treated for a mental disorder while under arrest, will receive a term of life in prison for his plea.

Despite his illness, mental health officials believe Loughner is competent enough to comprehend the charges against him.

In March 2011, Loughner, 24, pleaded not guilty to 49 counts, including six first-degree murder charges, which carry a possible death sentence upon conviction.

Giffords was meeting with constituents as she regularly did on Jan. 8, 2011 when, police said, Loughner began opening fire with a handgun, striking Giffords at point-blank range.

Among the six people Loughner allegedly murdered were U.S. District Court Judge John Roll, Gabriel Zimmerman, an aide to Giffords, and 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green.

Giffords is still recovering from a bullet wound to the brain and decided last year not to run for re-election.  One of her closest aides, Ron Barber, who was also wounded in the Tucson shooting, was chosen by voters last June to serve out the remainder of Giffords’ terms that ends in December.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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