A judge has deemed Tucson gunman Jared Lee Loughner mentally capable to stand trial. Here's a look at Loughner's publicly documented psychosis, from his high school outbursts to yesterday's long-awaited ruling.
Jared Loughner in a courtroom sketch on Sept. 28.
Image by Bill Robles / AP
Before the shooting:
May 12, 2006: Loughner, a junior in high school, comes to school drunk. He apparently drank 350 milliliters of vodka between 1:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. At the end of the year, he drops out. A psychologist who reviewed Loughner's journals later says she believes this is the year Loughner began showing signs of depression and symptoms of schizophrenia.
Aug. 30, 2007: A letter is sent to Loughner from the office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, thanking him for attending a Congress on your Corner event in Tucson. Loughner would later store this letter in a safe, along with an an envelope that reads "I planned ahead," "My assassination," "Giffords" and his signature.
December 2008: Loughner is rejected by the U.S. Army. The military was apparently turned off by Loughner's drug use, which he admitted to in his application.
February 2010: In Loughner's first recorded outburst at Pima Community College, he makes strange comments about a classmate's poem about abortion, including "Why don't just you strap bombs to babies?" Campus police had also received complaints that Loughner was carrying a knife with him.
April 6, 2010: Police are called when Loughner begins shouting and singing along to music playing in his headphones in the school library.
May 17, 2010: Loughner's pilates teacher requests that campus police monitor her class after Loughner throws a tantrum over his B grade.
Source: cache.daylife.com
June 14, 2010: In an email to friends, a 52-year-old student in Loughner's math class describes him as a "mentally unstable person... that scares the living crap out of me. He is one of those whose picture you see on the news, after he has come into class with an automatic weapon. Everyone interviewed would say, Yeah, he was in my math class and he was really weird. I sit by the door with my purse handy. If you see it on the news one night, know that I got out fast..."
Sept. 23, 2010: Loughner throws another tantrum over a grade, ranting to his teacher and class about freedom of speech. Campus police are called, and Loughner is asked to leave campus. That same day, Loughner uploads a video to YouTube, titled "Pima Community College School — Genocide/Scam-Free Education-Broken United States Constitution." Over campus photos, Loughner trashes the school: "This is my genocide school where I'm going to be homeless because of this school," he says. The video is discovered by school officials on Sept. 29, and Loughner is served a suspension letter.
Oct. 4, 2010: Loughner and his parents meet with school officials and he officially withdraws. Three days later, he receives a letter from the school. If he ever wants to come back, the letter says, he'll need clearance from a mental health official.
Nov. 30, 2010: Loughner buys a 9mm Glock pistol from a Sportsman's Warehouse.
Dec. 30, 2010: Loughner posts a message on his MySpace — one of many incoherent ramblings: "Dear Reader ... I'm searching. Today! With every concern, my shot is now ready for aim. The hunt, a mighty thought of mine."
January 7, 2011: Loughner drops off a roll of film at a local Walgreens. The photos show him pointing the gun at his buttcheeks. He's wearing a red thong.
