SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge has called a hearing to determine whether the suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage that left then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wounded should remain at a federal prison facility where officials are forcibly medicating him.
U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns scheduled the hearing for Monday in San Diego after the chief federal psychologist of Jared Lee Loughner informed him that she believes he is still not competent to stand trial, although she noted his mental state has improved during his stay at the facility in Springfield, Mo.
Loughner, 23, has pleaded not guilty to 49 charges stemming from the Jan. 8, 2011, shooting in Tucson that killed six people and injured Giffords and 12 others. Giffords who is still recovering resigned from Congress last month.
