The man who went on a shooting spree in 2011 in Arizona, killing 6 and wounding several — including then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — was a past drug user who was polite and cooperative after his arrest, newly released court documents show.
Jared Loughner, in restraints in the police interview room, asked to please use the bathroom, and said “thank you” when granted permission, The Associated Press reports. The court withheld from the press and public nearly 3,000 pages of documents related to the trial and investigation for months, out of concern they might prejudice the case, AP says.
But they were released this week, and some of the notes shed insight on Mr. Loughner’s mindset and past. For instance, Mr. Loughner had purchased a 12-guage shotgun in 2008, but his parents took it away when he was booted out of college — and more than one school official warned that he should not be allowed to own guns, AP says.
Also of interest: Mr. Loughner’s mother said he was a marijuana and cocaine user, known by police. And Mr. Loughner’s father said he was unable to communicate.
“I tried to talk to him,” Randy Loughner said of his son, AP reported. “But you can’t, he wouldn’t let you. … Lost, lost, and just didn’t want to communicate with me no more.”
A friend of Mr. Loughner’s, meanwhile, described an awkward meeting the two had just before Thanksgiving. Mr. Loughner came into the gun shop where Zachary Osler worked to buy a Glock, AP reports.
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“His response is nothing,” Mr. Osler said of Mr. Loughner, AP reports. “Just a mute facial expression. And just like he, he didn’t care.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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