Tucson shooting: 3,000 pages of sought-after records made public
TUCSON -- More than two years after a gunman opened fire in Tucson killing six and seriously wounding former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, authorities on Wednesday released thousands of pages of records about the case that had previously been kept private.
The disclosure comes after Jared Lee Loughner, 24, was sentenced in November to life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to 19 federal charges in the rampage at a constituent event Giffords was holding at a grocery store parking lot.
In addition to the six deaths and shooting Giffords in the head, Loughner wounded 12 other people.
The judge handling the case had ordered the documents sealed to ensure Loughner’s right to a fair trial. But last month, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns approved the release of the files now that the case is closed. Various news organization had sought access to the documents.
During his initial hours-long interview with authorities, Loughner was polite and cooperative as he sat in restraints, the Associated Press reported. He complained of feeling sore and at one point said, “I’m about ready to fall over.”
Loughner, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, is serving his sentence at a federal prison medical facility in Springfield, Mo.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department made public about 3,000 pages of reports from the investigation. The reports contain witness interviews, police reports and other investigative documents.
Photos taken as part of the investigation will not be released at this time. Sheriff’s officials said they would be released later on, though no timetable has been set.
Giffords stepped down from office to focus on her recovery. She and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, have been high-profile supporters of gun control, especially after the Newtown, Conn., school shooting in December that left 20 children and six adults dead.
Giffords’ chief of staff, Ron Barber, who was injured in the Tucson shooting won Giffords’ congressional seat in 2012.
Check back at latimes.com for updates.
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