Jared Lee Loughner Pleads Guilty to 19 Charges in the Tucson, AZ Massacre and Will Likely Spend the rest of his Life in Prison

Jared Lee Loughner plead guilty to 19 charges in the Tucsan Massacre where six people were killed and 13 others wounded, including former US Rep. Gabby Giffords(AZ-D).  Loughner will spend the rest of his life in prison after accepting responsibility for a deadly shooting. Prior to the plea, a judge ruled that Loughner was competent to understand charge. Loughner pleaded guilty to 19 charges, with U.S. District Judge Larry Burns dismissing 30 others. Sentencing is set for November 15. The plea deal brings an end to a tragic and senseless act of violence and spares the victims and their families having to relive the horrible events of the day so many were gunned down. The outcome was welcomed by some victims, including Giffords herself, as a way to move on.

Jared Lee Loughner agreed Tuesday to spend the rest of his life in prison, accepting that he went on a deadly shooting rampage at an Arizona political gathering and avoiding the prospect of a trial that might have brought him the death penalty.

His plea came after a federal judge found that months of psychiatric treatment made Loughner able to understand charges that he killed six people and wounded 13 others, including his intended target, then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Comment from Mark Kelly, the husband of Gabby Giffords, regarding the plea deal.

“The pain and loss caused by the events of January 8, 2011, are incalculable,” Mr. Kelly said. “Avoiding a trial will allow us—and we hope the whole Southern Arizona community—to continue with our recovery and move forward with our lives.”