The man accused of six murders and nearly killing U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona is not mentally fit to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.
U.S. Marshals dragged Jared Lee Loughner out of the courtroom because of an angry outburst as family members of the victims looked on in court.
The clearly disturbed Loughner lowered his head, raised it and said what sounded like “Thank you for the freak show. She died in front of me.”
His words were loud but mumbled, and it wasn’t clear who he was talking about. He wore a khaki prison suit and sported bushy, red sideburns.
U.S. District Judge Larry Burns’ decision means the 21-year-old will be sent to a federal facility for up to four months in a bid to restore his competency.
The ruling came after Loughner spent five weeks at a federal facility in Springfield, Mo., examined by court-appointed mental health professionals.
Throughout March and April, the two were asked to determine whether or not Loughner understands the consequences of the case against him.
Apparently he does not, but the competency reports by psychologist Christina Pietz and psychiatrist Matthew Carroll haven’t been publicly released.
After the outburst, marshals standing behind Loughner’s chair grabbed him by each arm and led him out. Loughner’s father, sitting a few rows behind his son, lowered his eyes and huddled with two women seated next to him.