Jared Loughner Sentenced to Life; Gabrielle Giffords in Courtroom

Jared Loughner, who shot former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the head, killed six and wounded 12 others in a 2011 rampage, will never be a free man again.

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole this morning.

After listening to some of his victims berate him for damaging their lives in the Arizona massacre, Loughner, 24, received the sentence in a Tucson federal court.

A series of emotional confrontations preceded the sentencing.

After a woman spoke about the pain of losing her husband to Loughner’s bullet, Giffords, who was in the courtroom, turned to her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly.

She kissed him on the head, according to reports.

When it was their turn to confront the shooter, Kelly and Giffords stood and looked directly at Jared Loughner. It was the first time the two had been face-to-face.

The defendant returned the couple’s gaze as Kelly went on to explain how the bullet had forever changed his wife’s life, but couldn’t damage her spirit.

Giffords resigned from Congress earlier this year.