Family of Arizona gunman: 'We don't understand why this happened'

[News_Editor]

Family of Arizona gunman: 'We don't understand why this happened'

2011-01-12 11:47:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

TUCSON, ARIZONA (BNO NEWS) -- In their first public statement since Saturday's shooting rampage at a supermarket in Arizona, the family of suspected gunman Jared Lee Loughner on Tuesday said it does not understand the motives behind the attack.

The shooting happened at about 10.11 a.m. MST at a supermarket in northwest Tucson on Saturday where U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" of the year. Loughner, 22, opened fire, killing six people and injuring 13 others.

Among the fatalities were 9-year-old Christina Greene and U.S. District Judge John Roll. U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who appears to have been the target, was critically injured as a result of a gunshot wound to her head.

"This is a very difficult time for us. We ask the media to respect our privacy. There are no words that can possibly express how we feel. We wish that there were, so we could make you feel better," a statement by Jared Loughner's parents said. "We don't understand why this happened. It may not make any difference, but we wish that we could change the heinous events of Saturday. We care very deeply about the victims and their families. We are so very sorry for their loss."

Loughner is now facing five counts in a federal complaint and made his initial court appearance on Monday. These charges are for the attempted murder of Giffords, the unlawful killing of Giffords' staff member Gabriel Zimmerman, the unlawful killing of Roll, the attempted murder of Pamela Simon, and the attempted murder of Ron Barber.

As a result of Loughner's initial appearance in federal court on Monday, Magistrate Judge Lawrence Anderson decided to detain Loughner because he is accused of a crime of violence. He will remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

And while more charges are possible and expected, Loughner already faces the death penalty for the murder of Judge Roll if he is found guilty. In addition, he also faces life imprisonment for the attempted assassination of Giffords if he is found guilty.

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