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Before Assault, Loughner Researched Lethal Injection

He also read up on political assassinations, solitary confinement

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 26, 2011 1:10 PM CST

(Newser) – His mugshot might have the look of a crazy man, but Jared Lee Loughner apparently knew full well what was in store for him after the Tucson shooting spree he stands charged in. In the weeks before the attack, Loughner used his computer to look up the subjects of lethal injection and solitary confinement, sources tell the Washington Post. He also studied up on political assassins.

"The impression investigators have is that he was trying to educate himself on assassinations and also research the consequences," one source tells the paper. Prosecutors will use the information in their attempt to prove that Loughner is sane and knows the difference between right and wrong.

In this artist rendering, Jared Lee Loughner, right, makes a court appearance with his lawyer, Judy Clarke, in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 24.
In this artist rendering, Jared Lee Loughner, right, makes a court appearance with his lawyer, Judy Clarke, in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 24.   (AP Photo/Bill Robles)
In this artist rendering, Jared Lee Loughner makes a court appearance in Phoenix on Monday.
In this artist rendering, Jared Lee Loughner makes a court appearance in Phoenix on Monday.   (AP Photo/Bill Robles)
This Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 photo released by the Pima County Sheriff's Office shows shooting suspect Jared Loughner.
This Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 photo released by the Pima County Sheriff's Office shows shooting suspect Jared Loughner.   (AP Photo/Pima County Sheriff's Dept. via The Arizona Republic)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
wyle
Jan 27, 2011 1:13 AM CST
To hell with lethal injection and solitary confinement, somebody get a rope.
Jack Austin Gilbert
Jan 26, 2011 6:52 PM CST
When did insanity become a defense..? Anyway, I'd rather have Arizona lock this guy up in solitary for life than kill him. Death isn't a punishment if you're not afraid of it. To this guy it's his way out of prison, and I think if the state gives him what he wants that doesn't discourage other crazies from acting similarly to the way he did. Life in solitary confinement? THAT is brutal. There I think the punishment fits the crime.
fractal
Jan 26, 2011 1:41 PM CST
You can be wildly paranoid and still be organized. He was into all that crazy stuff about punctuation equal reality. Very schizophrenic. Check it out: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2003/spring/full-colon-miller
 

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