PHOENIX, March 23 (UPI) -- The reported $25 million lawsuit thought to have been filed by the convicted gunman behind a mass shooting in Tucson in 2011, in which former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, is likely a hoax.

A federal court official told KPNX 12 News the lawsuit is from a mentally disturbed prisoner in Philadelphia who is impersonating Arizona shooter Jared Lee Loughner. The court official said the prisoner in Philadelphia has done this before.


Loughner killed six people and injured 13 in the shooting, including Giffords, who had brain damage after being shot in the head. Loughner pleaded guilty in 2012 to 19 federal charges and is serving seven consecutive life sentences, plus 140 years.

Loughner was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the shooting and was given psychotropic drug treatments.

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The hoax lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Arizona on Friday without the apparent aid of a lawyer. According to KOLD-TV in Tucson, the suit alleges Loughner was "framed" and "handpicked illegally to be a sleeper assassin" and claims "the govt. put a chip in my head to control my mind."

The lawsuit goes on to allege "Gabby Giffords never got shot, it was all an act, Giffords watches Ronald Reagan movies and pretened (sic) she was hit." The suit also wrote that Giffords is a member of "the Illuminati," and that he is receiving "microwave testing" and waterboarding "on defendant's direct orders."

The suit also names the Bureau of Prisons and rambles about prison life, complaining that his "water has fluoride that defendants plant parasites in my water, and feed me aspartame by Monsanto."

Other accusations in the suit include: Loughner is being targeted with chemtrails, which have made him sick and delusional; Giffords help set up rancher Cliven Bundy; and Mark Kelly, Giffords' husband and a former American astronaut, planted illegal spy equipment in the skies to spy on Americans.

A note attached to the filing, stated the lawsuit could be tossed for not following correct legal form.