Background
Loughner, an only child of Randy and Amy Loughner, was born on Sept. 1988. During his high school years friends described him as being quiet and shy and somewhat unremarkable. He played saxophone for the high school band and had a girl friend for several months.Some hypothesize that Laugher's troubles began to surface after his girlfriend ended their relationship. He allegedly got into drinking and drugs and took on a Goth-like appearance. In 2006, he dropped out of Mountain View High School in his senior year. Once viewed as somewhat social, Loughner was later described as non-responsive and a loner after leaving high school.
Loughner worked at a Quiznos restaurant, but was fired after he went through what his manager described as a "personality transformation." He also volunteered at an animal shelter, but, according to the shelter manager, he was asked to leave because he could not follow, or could not comprehend simple policies, such as where to walk the dogs.
According to court records, September 2008 charges against Loughner for the possession of drug paraphernalia in Pima County were dismissed after he completed a diversion program. He completed another diversion program in March 2009, after being charged in October 2008 for defacing a street sign.
U.S. Army
In 2008, Loughner tried to join the U.S. Army, but allegedly his application was rejected because he admitted to smoking pot. However, according to a close friend of his, in late 2008 Loughner made the decision to quit using drugs, alcohol and smoking cigarettes and did not start back up.Pima Community College
Loughner was also attending Pima Community College, but was asked to leave in September 2010. His "quiet and shy" personality seemed to transform in a few years into behavior described as volatile and disruptive. From February 2010 until September, the police were called five times because of his disruptive behavior.Some of his classmates and teachers described Loughner as confused, dark and threatening and feared that he might one day "go completely off and shoot up the classrooms." Others say that although he is opinionated, he is a kind person.
In October 2010, Pima sent a letter of suspension, via two policemen, to Loughner's home. The suspension stemmed from his disruptive behavior and because of a video he posted on YouTube. In the video Loughner can be seen walking at night with a video camera on the college campus. He can be heard calling the school "illegal" and a "genocide school." In panting rhetoric he can be seen going from one building to the next, while making conspirator comments about the school and about America.
In response the college dismissed him until he could obtain mental health clearance by a mental health professional. Instead of complying, Loughner opted to drop out.
Political Views
Loughner was registered as an independent voter in the 2006 and 2008 elections. But it appears that his political views became distorted with his obsession with conspiracy theories and extremist beliefs. He utilized the Internet to voice his opinions, posting videos on MySpace and YouTube. He also participated in an online forum that centers on political conspiracies and even there his rhetoric was considered extreme by some members.Some of the conspiracies that Loughner allegedly believes in include:
- The September 11 attacks were the fault of the U.S. Government.
- A New World Order would bring about a one world currency.
- There would be a 2012 apocalypse.
- NASA had faked spaceflights.
- The government was using mind-control methods to brainwash people by controlling grammar.
Gabrielle Giffords
According to friends, Loughner allegedly does not like Gabrielle Giffords because she is a Democrat, a woman in power, and she failed to answer a question he asked her during an event in August 2007. The question, which a friend who was with him said she did not understand was, "What is government if words have no meaning?" After the event friends say Loughner referred to Giffords as a fake and stupid. A letter from Giffords thanking Loughner for attending the event was later found in a box among his personal belongings. Also in the box were notes with phrases written such as, "die bitch" and "assassination plans have been made."The Day of the Shootings
A press release from the Pima County Sherriff's Department reported that Loughner purchased a 9mm Glock pistol from the Sportsman's Warehouse in Tucson. This is the same pistol that he allegedly used in the shootings.On his MySpace page, he left a message at 4:12 a.m., which said "Goodbye friends. Please don't be mad at me. The literacy rate is below 5%. I haven't talked to one person who is literate. I want to make it out alive. The longest war in the history of the United States. Goodbye. I'm saddened with the current currency and job employment. I had a bully at school. Thank you. P.S. --plead the fifth!"
He then drove to two Walmarts to purchase ammunition and a backpack styled diaper bag. About 30 minutes later (7:30 a.m.) he was stopped by the AZ Game & Fish Department for running a red light. Loughner then returned home and was confronted by his father. Fleeing on foot, with the black bag, he called for a taxi from a convenience store and was taken to Safeway in Casas Adobes. He then went into the store to get change to give to the driver.
Outside of the Safeway, Rep. Gifford was holding a "Congress on Your Corner" event, a town-hall type gathering at which constituents can meet their elected representatives, ask questions and express concerns.
At around 10:10 a.m. allegedly Loughner began shooting at Giffords, striking her in the head. He continued shooting, killing six bystanders, including a 9-year-old child and injuring 13 others. He was subdued and held until police arrived.
Killed in the shooting were: U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, 63; Christina Taylor Green, 9; Gabe Zimmerman, 30; Phllis Schneck, 79; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; Dorothy Morris, 76.
Loughner's Creepy Photograph
After his arrest a photograph (see above) was released by the Pima County Sheriff's Office of Loughner glaring and smiling into the camera. The New York Times posted the picture, saying that his image was intense and arresting and "invited you to look and study, and wonder."Pleads Not Guilty
The same "creepy" smile was seen on Loughner when, on January 24, 2011, he was charged with one count of attempted assassination of a member of Congress and two counts of killing an officer of the United States and two counts of attempted killing of an officer of the United States. His attorney, Judy Clarke, asked the judge to enter a plea for her client, to which a not guilty plea was entered.On March 3, a federal grand jury indicted Loughner on more charges of murder and attempted murder, totaling 49 counts to which he has plead not guilty. A trial date has not been set.
