Ariz. shooting spree suspect incompetent for trial

PHOENIX — A federal judge has ruled that the suspect in the Arizona shooting rampage that wounded U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is mentally incompetent to stand trial, putting the criminal case on hold indefinitely.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns means 21-year-old Jared Lee Loughner will be sent to a federal facility for up to four months in a bid to restore his competency.

During the hearing Wednesday, Burns had Loughner escorted from the courtroom after Loughner lowered his head and said what sounded like: "Thank you for the freak show. She died in front of me." His head was inches from the table in front of him.

Loughner, dressed in a khaki prison suit and sporting bushy, reddish sideburns, was pulled from the courtroom by three court officers, NBC News reported. A room had been set up with a monitor so he could follow proceedings on closed circuit TV.

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