Loughner's Lethal Message: "I Planned Ahead"

TUCSON - Investigators in the attack that killed six people and wounded 14 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, said they seized evidence suggesting Jared Loughner planned ahead.

Investigators carried out a search warrant at the suspect's home and seized an envelope from a safe with messages such as "I planned ahead," "My assassination," and the name "Giffords" next to what appears to be the man's signature.

Special Section: Tragedy in Tucson

The FBI also found a letter in a safe from Giffords, on Congressional stationery, dated Aug. 30, 2007 that thanked Loughner for attending a "Congress on your Corner" event at the Foothills Mall in Tucson.

Loughner is charged with one count of attempted assassination of a member of Congress, two counts of killing an employee of the federal government and two counts of attempting to killing a federal employee.

Criminal Complaint Against Jared Lee Loughner

Heather Williams, the first assistant federal public defender in Arizona, says the 22-year-old suspect doesn't yet have a lawyer, but that her office is working to get a lawyer appointed for Loughner.

Loughner remains in federal custody and is being transported to Phoenix where he will make an initial court appearance on Monday at 2 p.m. local time.

Meanwhile, authorities released 911 calls in which a person witnessing the mass shooting outside a grocery store in Tucson describes a frantic scene and says, "I do believe Gabby Giffords was hit."

Loughner fired at Giffords' district director and shooting indiscriminately at staffers and others standing in line to talk to the congresswoman, said Mark Kimble, a communications staffer for Giffords.

"He was not more than three or four feet from the congresswoman and the district director," Kimble said, describing the scene as "just complete chaos, people screaming, crying."

Loughner is accused of killing six people, including a federal judge, an aide to Giffords and a 9-year-old girl who was born on Sept. 11, 2001. Fourteen others were wounded, including the three-term Democrat lawmaker. Authorities don't know his motive, but said he targeted Giffords at a public gathering around 10 a.m. Saturday.

Doctors treating the lawmaker provided an optimistic update about her chances for survival, saying they are "very, very encouraged" by her ability to respond to simple commands along with their success in controlling her bleeding.

Giffords Doctors: Good News on Bullet Trajectory
Jared Loughner Interacted With Giffords in 2007
Victims of the Tucson Shooting Rampage

In one of several YouTube videos, which featured text against a dark background, Loughner described inventing a new U.S. currency and complained about the illiteracy rate among people living in Giffords' congressional district in Arizona.

"I know who's listening: Government Officials, and the People," Loughner wrote. "Nearly all the people, who don't know this accurate information of a new currency, aren't aware of mind control and brainwash methods. If I have my civil rights, then this message wouldn't have happen (sic)."

In Loughner's middle-class neighborhood - about a five-minute drive from the scene - sheriff's deputies had much of the street blocked off. The neighborhood sits just off a bustling Tucson street and is lined with desert landscaping and palm trees.

Neighbors said Loughner lived with his parents and kept to himself. He was often seen walking his dog, almost always wearing a hooded sweat shirt and listening to his iPod.

[nomossonmyrocks]

I hold all politicians everywhere culpable. They are the main reason for the ever expanding divide in this country. Leadership is setting the example for others to follow and they are reaping what they have sown. We will never rise again as a nation until we can learn to behave towards each other as humans.

[Molly-Pchr]

Stop honoring this perp with political motives. If it weren't rants about some politician or the government, it would be something else. Evil needs no motive, but it likes excuses, real or imagined. He's had his 15 minutes, and some jury, sooner than later, hopefully, won't take that long to find him guilty.

[patocc123]

I think you need to get real, If you believe that he was a right-wing tea bagger then you are just as guilty of the people who you hate. Getting/believing your one-sided information source.

Or maybe you just like to add to the political discourse.

[rmoore17]

Loughner is a left leaning , pot smoking, rock and roll enthusiast who likes to read "The Communist Manifesto." That doesn't sound like a Tea Party supporter at all.

[imthaid]

Yeah buddy. It musta been the pot. *rolls eyes*

[Skruffy1]

He also listed Mein Kampf. All the bad things Hitler was, he wasn't left-leaning. He was the ultimate right-winger. Furthermore, I have read parts of BOTH those books. Had to for a history class, and that doesn't make me a Nazi or a Communist. Furthermore, most of his rants in his YouTube videos were talking points of the "sovereign citizen" movement, which is primarily right-wing. And his burning of the flag in one of his videos does not make him a leftie; he mumbled something to the effect of the flag's not being legitimate because it's not defined in the Constitution. The claim that nothing in the US that's not clearly defined in the Constitution isn't legitimate is MOST CERTAINLY a Tea Party talking point. LOTS and LOTS of right-wingers smoke pot and listen to rock-n-roll, too. Whether he's clearly "left" or "right" probably can't be determined with certainty, and doesn't matter all that much.

[tmittelstaed]

"...If Sarah Palin had been the victim of a left-wing assassin, would you be whining about "proving" they had seen her map?..."

Yes, because that would make the Republicans look like saints.

Despite what YOU think, Republican, this incident likely has just cemented Obama's 2012 election win. The fence-sitters won't put up with this and will quit the Republican as a result

[FrederickMichael]

The political spin on this is sick. Wait until some facts are in instead of making prejudiced announcements.

The cops may find out what websites he was frequenting. Then some apologies could be in order.

Fat chance they'd be offered up though.

[Peabody_II]

Any excuse to protect violence -- especially if it might indict people (like you) who turn a blind eye to violent encouragement from political personalities....

You're no better than Loughner.

[JV1970]

FrederickMichael You are absolutely right! I think when the facts come out about this apologies will indeed be in order to Sarah Palin by the thousands from the people on these comment boards. I doubt she'll receive them, though, because her haters aren't big enough to admit when they are wrong! They'll just go on spouting their hate just as always because that's the kind of people they are! Obstinent and hateful!

[on_alert247]

And what about Michael Moore's hatred of the former president?

[on_alert247]

And yet you are the one demonizing all conservatives. Interesting.

[Peabody_II]

If Loughner had done to Gifford what Moore has done to politicians he hates, I would have no issue with it.

Your defense of Loughner's "solutions" show everyone that you are just like him. A very violent person who wants to see more people killed.

[jms133]

His admissions to planning the shooting make this premeditated murder and a terroristic act no different than setting off a bomb or attempting to do so.He attacked the US government in his mind and I wonder if others were involved,remember timothy mcveigh.He should be given the same swift justice mcveigh got with no appeals,no hope and let him sit and wait and think before execution.By then he'll really be out of his mind.

[pragmatist1]

In 2007 this lunatic had a verbal altercation with the congresswoman, which ties back to her standard letter to him thanking him for attending her event. That this guy had that much hatred for her since then and kept the letter speaks to the obsession of this person of evil. This was long before any TEA party or Sarah Palin. Those who pathetically suggest that he did what he did because of these two elements are more than a bit off their beam.

[erasmus111]

by pragmatist1 January 9, 2011 6:18 PM EST
This was long before any TEA party or Sarah Palin.


It was 2007. Over 3 years ago. Why didn't he do something long before now if he was that obsessed? It could very well have been Sarah Palin's constant bullcrap that put him over the edge. There are a lot of unstable people out there that ordinarily wouldn't go to these lengths, but when you get someone like her spewing her hatred, this is what can happen.

[Peabody_II]

If McCain had chosen Rice as a running mate, I actually would have voted for him.

Most of you Palin-backers are just violence-lovers in sheep's clothing.

[dennisall77]

so was this nut case guided by Sarah Palin's disgusting rifle crosshairs on Gifford's district? Will Palin apologize for such an abhorrent manner of politcal advertising? Has she no shame? Or will she and her blindly loyal followers provide some lame excuse, redirect the discussion by trying to blame the Progressives, or just ignore it? IT WILL happen again if we do not plainly and absoultely condemn such invitations to violence.

[thebob-bob]

Seems to me Sarah Palin and her supporters in the New American Fascist Party are advocating the overthrow of the Government by force and violence. The result? Attacks on constitutionally elected legislators, the murder of Federal Judges. Who provides the funds for their propaganda efforts? Who are the rightwing extremists and their fellow travelers?

Why do they hate America??? These terrorists and their sympathizers need to be held to account!

[Zboes]

thebob-bob- Any proof that the shooter even saw the Palin map? I'm sure the FBI will find the answer on his computer. If he was not on Palin's website will you bigoted haters apoligize? No, and CBS will quietly ignore it while letting, and encouraging, the irrational Palin hatred to continue.

[Gamesman001]

@ Zboes Please get some education. Start with the true definition of bigot. Second Palin and the sheep following her spew far more hate than any who question her bizarre rants and illogical ideas. BTW hope you have a nice day because I don't hate anyone just ignorance and violence which hand in hand rob us of the best we are and do.