Jared Loughner, who killed six and wounded thirteen in the January 8 assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords, had a troubling and well documented history of mental and emotional disturbance. An upcoming competency hearing is scheduled in court to determine his ability to stand trial.
More than 200 emails have now been released as well as other records from his time at Pima Community College. A pattern of mental disturbance emerges from the details.
Some of the highlights include:
• Pima Community College had concerns about Loughner’s mental stability dating back to at least September, 2009
• He had at least five run ins with campus police that included inappropriate laughing during questioning
• Campus administration at one point requested information from ATF on whether Loughner had a gun. ATF had no record of him
• He was a consistently disruptive influence in class
• He displayed knives in class
• He consistently engaged in behavior described as intimidating of both students and faculty
• He made bizarre statements in class and in emails to other students and faculty, including asking a math teacher why the teacher denied math instead of accepting it.
• Requests were made by teachers to have him removed from their classes
• Requests were made by campus police to have him expelled
• In October, 2010 he was told to get a mental health evaluation or not return
Despite the warning signs, no serious action was taken. Dean Patricia Houston attributed the school’s reticence to respect for Loughner’s due process rights. She said in one email,” “It is a matter of balancing the disruptive student’s right to due process with the rights of the other students in the class.”
While the newly released emails and records do not constitute a diagnosis, they do provide some insight into a deteriorating mind and the bizarre and intimidating behaviors that resulted and eventually led to the events of January 8th.
Contributor, aka tidbits. Retired attorney in complex litigation, death penalty defense and constitutional law. Former Nat’l Board Chair: Alzheimer’s Association. Served on multiple political campaigns, including two for U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR). Contributing author to three legal books and multiple legal publications.