Massacre suspect 'mentally disturbed,' former teacher says
Drew Griffin, Kathleen Johnston and Scott Zamost
CNN
Tucson, Arizona (CNN) - The suspect in the weekend massacre in Arizona was kicked out of an algebra class at a community college in June after repeated interruptions and clearly "needed psychological help," his instructor said Sunday.
Jared Lee Loughner was "physically removed" from the Pima Community College course less than a month after it began, its instructor, Ben McGahee told CNN. McGahee said Loughner sometimes shook, blurted things out in class, and appeared to be under the influence of drugs at times.
"I was scared of what he could do," McGahee said. "I wasn't scared of him physically, but I was scared of him bringing a weapon to class."
Loughner is now accused of opening fire at a Tucson supermarket where U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was hosting a meet-and-greet session with her constituents on Saturday. Six people were killed and 14 others wounded in the shooting.
Giffords remained in critical condition Sunday after being shot through the skull, while a federal judge, a congressional aide and a 9-year-old girl were among the dead.
Investigators found a letter from the congresswoman in a safe at the house where Loughner lived with his parents, thanking him for attending a similar 2007 event, according to court documents released Sunday.
"Also recovered in the safe was an envelope with handwriting on the envelope stating 'I planned ahead,' and 'my assassination' and the name 'Giffords,' along with what appears to be Loughner's signature," the affidavit states.
Federal authorities have now charged Laughner with first-degree murder, attempted murder counts and attempting to kill a member of Congress, counts that involve the shootings of federal employees. State prosecutors also could bring charges in the remaining cases.
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Filed under: 360° Radar • 360º Follow |
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Please read the end please.... one of my family members has mental illness. I would like to open people’s eyes to what have we done for 23 years. What it has been like to help him get better and become a normal person. About the sacrifices we have made, the responsibility we have accepted, to makes sure he and his environment remain safe. He lives somewhat of a normal life like any other patients, cancer patients or Aids patients that needs care. I left my education back home, my father left his dental practice, and my mother left her life back home to move here and be with him in 1988. We have not given up not even now, we have taken responsibility I like for other families see what our lives has been and what it takes. We attend his psychological therapy sessions periodically and have become educated about his health condition b/c we cared. And we have never given up against all obstacles. We monitor to make sure he takes his medication. Perceive it as any other illness. It is much more that what I can write here. Let us open people eyes to what mental illness recovery is teach many.
The issues are that, 1- mental illness has been ignored for a very long time. 2- People do not know much about it. 3- Biggest issue is that families and friends do not want to deal with Mentally ill patients b/c they do not behave similar to normal people. People have no compassion for them. B/ c normally they are not clean and have strange behaviors and have to admit they can be dangerous. It takes; constant medical attention, care, compassion, dedications, education and we never left him alone. I HAVE A FORMER CLASSMATE WHO I KNOW WILL BE A DANGER SOON TO PUBLIC FROM THE EMIAL HE SENTS ME BUT TOO MUCH LEGALITY TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIM NOW. It has been 1 year and we have not been able to get him help. He will not go to a doctor and there is no system which can help us to help him. While police waits to have evidence that is normally a shooting episodes when is too late.
There needs to be some way to red flag these people so they cannot buy firearms. Too many of these shootings are done by people who are psychologically disturbed and who should never be able to buy a gun.
People are pointing fingers but sadly it seems to be turning out that this guy was just a lone nut case. What is even more frightening is that there is no real way to defend against lone nut cases, sure you can ban guns but that won’t necessarily stop someone with intention to do harm. I remember a guy named Billy Ferry who with a bucket of gasoline killed five people and horribly burned thirteen others. So we now have a question where there is no answer nor any real solution. Maybe the only good that can come out of this is to try to be a kinder more gentle nation and let go of our obsession with violence, mayhem and hatred.
The issues are that, 1- mental illness has been ignored for a very long time. 2- People do not know much about it. 3- Biggest issue is that families and friends do not want to deal with Mentally ill patients b/c they do not behave similar to normal people.
People have no compassion for them. B/ c normally they are not clean and have strange behaviors and have to admit they can be dangerous. We attend his psychological therapy sessions periodically and have become educated about his health condition b/c we cared. And we have never given up against all obstacles. It takes; constant medical attention, care, compassion, dedications, education and we never left him alone. We monitor to make sure he take s his medication. Perceive it as any other illness. It is much more that what I can write here. Let us open people eyes to what mental illness recovery is teach many. I HAVE A FORMER CLASSMATE WHO I KNOW WILL BE A DANGER SOON TO PUBLIC FROM THE EMIAL HE SENTS ME BUT TOO MUCH LEGALITY TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIM NOW. It has been 1 year and we have not been able to get him help. He will not go to a doctor and there is no system which can help us to help him. and police waits to have evidence that is normally a shooting episodes when is too late.
i think the most significant issue regarding the shooting has been over looked by the media ...............
this tragedy is not about politics and not about guns but is about mental illness and the inability of friends and family to act on behalf of an individual in need of help and as a consequence tragedies like this can't be prevented because of legalities ....... this in my opinion is the issue ....... thank you
Hi Anderson,
Wish you would do a story on why our laws and our health care system make it so difficult for the parents and friends of people who are dangerously mentally ill – dangerous to other people or to themselves – why our laws make it almost impossible to get dangerously ill people into protective environments where they can receive care and be prevented from harming other people or themselves. We can't control guns, evidently, but we should have a health care system that is able to protect us from dangerously mentally ill people.