Tucson shooter Jared Loughner will spend the rest of his life in prison. The mentally ill 24-year-old, who killed 6 people and wounded 13 in the 2011 attempted assassination of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was sentenced Thursday to 7 consecutive life terms, plus 140 years. He is not eligible for parole.
Before handing down the sentence, Judge Larry Burns said it was clear that Loughner’s mental illness did not stop him from knowing right from wrong when he carried out the shooting at Giffords’ political appearance outside a Tucson, Arizona supermarket on January 8, 2011. Loughner was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the shooting.
“The evidence clearly shows that he knew what he was doing, despite his mental illness,” Judge Burns said Thursday.
The seven life terms represent Giffords and the six people who lost their lives. "Each of those victims was important. It reflects each of those individual lives. There is a symbolic nature in this,” Judge Burns explained. "He should never get out of prison. I find this is just punishment. He will never have the opportunity to pick up a gun and do this again.”
Several of the victims spoke in court. Giffords’ husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, spoke on her behalf. She stood by his side and looked at Lougher as Kelly read a prepared statement. “Mr. Loughner, you may have put a bullet through her head but you haven't put a dent in her spirit and her commitment to make the world a better place,” Kelly said.
"You tried to create for all of us a world as dark and evil as your own,” he said. “But know this, and remember it always: You failed.”
“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,” he added.
Giffords suffered severe brain damage in the shooting, but intense rehabilitation and physical therapy has helped her regain the ability to walk and talk. She still struggles with speech and suffers diminished vision in both eyes.
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