Statement by Special Agent Regarding Guilty Plea of Jared Lee Loughner

First, let me express my sympathy for the atrocity that occurred on January 8, 2011 and the terrible effect it had on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the other injured victims; and my sincere condolences for the families and friends of The Honorable Judge John Roll, Congressional Aide Gabriel Zimmerman, Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and the other victims of this horrific and senseless tragedy.

As FBI Director Mueller indicated, this was an attack not only against dedicated public servants, but against our fellow citizens—one being a child who was excited just to learn more about how our government works at the Congress on Your Corner event—and other members of the community who were meeting with their elected officials for the first time or who were simply running errands on a Saturday. This was an attack on our democratic institutions, the sacrifices our public servants endure every day to make this country a better place to live, and our way of life.

Today, we remember the victims and their families forever affected by the violent acts that occurred on that day, as well as those in the Tucson community who were greatly affected by this senseless tragedy.

Today, justice was done. With the change of his plea, Jared Loughner will now spend the remainder of his life in prison and will never be able to harm the Tucson community or any community ever again.

I would like to thank Sheriff Clarence Dupnik and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Judge Leonardo and the United States Attorney’s Office, United States Marshal David Gonzales, and all my partners of the other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies who dedicated their resources and support and for their tireless efforts in assisting the FBI in this investigation.

The FBI Phoenix Division dedicated every available resource to this case to include over 200 Phoenix personnel, the Critical Incident Response Group, the FBI Laboratory for reconstructing the crime scene, the FBI Phoenix Computer Forensic and Evidence Response Teams, and the FBI’s Victim Specialists.

I would like to specifically recognize Special Agents Tony Taylor and Alan Misiaszek—co-case agents on this investigation—Retired Supervisory Special Agent Robin Andrews, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Annette Bartlett, and Former Special Agent in Charge Nate Gray for their dedication during the hours, weeks, and months following this horrific crime and their leadership in piecing together this investigation and making certain that every person was interviewed, every question was asked and answered, and the investigation was complete.

The events of January 8 affected all of us—not only the citizens of Arizona, but touched the nation as a whole. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the victims and their families and we hope that today’s plea agreement and ultimate resolution of this case will assist in the continuation of the healing process for our community, bring honor to those who have fallen, and help all of us who live in this community to never forget, but to move forward.

Jared Lee Loughner Indicted

TUCSON , Ariz. - A federal grand jury in Tucson, today returned an initial three-count indictment against Jared Lee Loughner for attempting to kill U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and two of her aides, Ron Barber and Pamela Simon.

Today’s charges represent the initial indictment in the investigation of the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson.

 “Today, the Grand Jury returned an initial three-count indictment against Jared Lee Loughner in the Tucson shooting case. We are in the early stages of this ongoing investigation.   We have made considerable progress in a short period of time,”    said U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke.   “This case also involves potential death-penalty charges, and Department rules require us to pursue a deliberate and thorough process. Today’s charges are just the beginning of our legal action, and we are working diligently to ensure that our investigation is thorough and that justice is done for the victims and their families.”  

The charges meet the requirement under the Federal Criminal Code which mandates that the United States bring an indictment within 30 days of arrest of the defendant. 

The indictment alleges that Loughner, 22, of Tucson, attempted to assassinate Gabrielle Giffords, a Member of Congress, 18 USC 351(c,), and attempted to murder two federal employees, Ron Barber and Pamela Simon, 18 USC 1114 and 1113.

Loughner has been held in federal custody since Jan. 8.

A conviction for the attempted assassination of a Member of Congress carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.   A conviction for attempted murder of a federal employee carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

In determining an actual sentence, Judge 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.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt.   An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Burke emphasized that the procedure in any case which may result in a punishment of death requires a careful and deliberate process, and includes consultation with the victims of the crimes and their families, consideration of all evidence relevant to guilt and punishment, and consultation with all the law enforcement agencies investigating the case. 

Also, in order to pursue the death penalty the United States Attorney’s Office for Arizona must provide information to the Capital Review Committee. For more detailed information about this process, click here.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement team led by the FBI. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wallace Kleindienst, Beverly Anderson, Christina Cabanillas and Mary Sue Feldmeier of the District of Arizona, Tucson.

Together We Thrive: Tucson and America

By Tracy Russo

This evening, Attorney General Eric Holder joined President Obama and other government officials at the “Together We Thrive: Tucson and America”  – a memorial event in remembrance of the victims of Saturday’s mass shooting in Arizona.

As part of the remembrance, the Attorney General read the following passage from the New Testament:

A Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (4:13-5:1)

 Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.

 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 This is the word of the Lord.