Initial court appearance set for suspected gunman

BY: The Associated Press

Published: January 9, 2011 at 10:03 pm

This March 2010 photo shows a man identified as Jared L. Loughner at the 2010 Tucson Festival of Books in Tucson, Ariz. The Arizona Daily Star, a festival sponsor, confirmed from their records that the subject's address matches one under investigation by police after a shooting in Tucson that left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wounded and at least five others dead. Police say a suspect is in custody, and he was identified by people familiar with the investigation as Jared Loughner, 22, of Tucson. (AP Photo/Arizona Daily Star, Mamta Popat)

A gunman accused of shooting an Arizona congresswoman and killing six people at a political event in Tucson is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Monday in Phoenix.

Federal prosecutors say 22-year-old suspect Jared Loughner will make his initial appearance at 2 p.m. Monday before a magistrate judge at the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse in Phoenix.

Loughner remains in federal custody after Saturday’s shooting outside a Tucson grocery store that wounded 14 including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Prosecutors say the federal court will set a date for the suspect’s preliminary hearing and detention hearing.