Arizona Shooter Killed Six; Likely To Face Death Penalty

Police say Jared Lee Loughner, who is in custody, killed six people, including Judge John M. Roll, a 9-year-old child, and Gabe Zimmerman, an aide to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was among 13 others injured.

Pima County, Ariz., Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said authorities believe Giffords was targeted by the shooter. But Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano said the killer is likely facing the death penalty even if he didn’t target Roll or others in particular during the shooting.

Napolitano said it would be a federal crime of capital murder eligible for the death sentence if the killer’s motive was to prevent Roll from carrying out his judicial role.

“If on the other hand he was just killed because he happened to get in the way, then it’s not a federal crime, then Arizona law would take place. He still may be exposed to the death penalty but it would be under Arizona jurisdiction and not federal.”

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.