TUCSON - A federal judge ruled that Tucson-area shooting defendant Jared Loughner is not mentally competent to stand trial, ordering him instead to a federal psychiatric facility for treatment that might enable him to eventually stand trial for the mass shooting that left six dead and 13 wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns agreed Wednesday with two medical experts who had examined Loughner and concluded that he is schizophrenic and suffers from paranoia and delusions, making him unable to assist in his own defense.



Photos from the hearing

Loughner, 22, has been charged with 49 crimes relating to the Jan. 8 shooting rampage at a Giffords event outside a supermarket near Tucson. He has pleaded not guilty.

Loughner's bizarre behavior was on display during Wednesday's hearing. About 45 minutes into it, the defendant yelled, "Thanks for the freak show!" and was immediately escorted from a packed courtroom by a federal marshal.

After a brief recess, he was led back in and given the option of sitting quietly through the balance of the hearing or being taken to a separate room to watch on closed-circuit television. Loughner opted for the latter and was taken out of the courtroom for the duration.

He will remain in custody while being treated for mental illness at a federal facility in Springfield, Mo., and could remain hospitalized indefinitely if he does not get well and is determined to be a danger to himself or to others, according to those familiar with federal law.

However, the judge set Loughner's next hearing for Sept. 21, the end of the first four-month period of treatment during which doctors will attempt to return his mind to a state of mental competence that allows him to understand the legal proceedings.

Burns said Loughner's mental illness is such that he does not trust his own lawyers. The judge said the doctors who examined him also determined Loughner could not stay on task and gave "nonsensical responses to simple questions."

The judge, who viewed the doctors' taped interviews of Loughner and read excerpts of their reports, agreed with the medical experts that Loughner was not faking his incompetence.

"At the present time, he does not have a rational understanding of these hearings," Burns said.

The goal is for Loughner to voluntarily take medications that his doctors will prescribe for him so his competency is restored and he can face charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

If Loughner refuses to take his medication, the judge could order that he be involuntarily medicated.

If Loughner is restored to competency, that would not prevent him from relying on a defense of insanity.

Shackled and dressed in khaki prison garb, Loughner on Wednesday initially listened intently during the early part of the hearing. Though he had a shaved head earlier this year, he now has thick, unkempt brown hair and facial hair.

Well into the hearing, Loughner became agitated as media lawyers asked Burns to order release of certain investigative records in the case. Loughner started rubbing his forehead and rocking in his chair.

After peering about the courtroom, Loughner zeroed in on the judge and blurted what sounded like: "Thanks for the freak show. She died in front of me. This is treasonous."

It was unclear if Loughner was referring to Giffords in his remarks.

U.S. marshals immediately grabbed Loughner and dragged him out, leaving behind shocked spectators.

Loughner's father, Randy, was seen sobbing.

"He's a piece of work," said Eric Fuller, one of the Jan. 8 shooting victims who attended the hearing. "You don't have to be a psychiatrist to know the boy is disturbed."

Lead defense counsel Judy Clarke and other members of Loughner's defense team took no questions after the hearing.

Dennis Burke, U.S. attorney for Arizona, said he was fine with the judge's competency ruling.

"This is not uncommon. We deal with it a lot," Burke said. "We are not surprised by it, and we are ready to proceed throughout the summer."

Burke said some victims' families likely would not be pleased with the ruling, but the case cannot move forward until he is restored to competency.

The ruling means Loughner will be held until the September hearing, when it must again be determined if he's competent to stand trial.

Federal law allows a defendant who is not competent to stand trial to be held for four months before another hearing must be held.

Paul Charlton, a former U.S. attorney for Arizona, said Loughner could be held as long as it is determined "he is a danger to himself or others."

Determining whether a person is competent is a three-part process, said Michael Bayless, a Phoenix-based forensic psychologist familiar with the case. Bayless said a defendant is incompetent to stand trial if he or she:

- Has a mental disease or defect that prevents the person from understanding the nature of the proceedings.

- Suffers from a disease or defect that prevents the person from being able to help his or her lawyer to present a defense.

- Does not understand what it means to plead guilty in court.

Bayless said if Loughner never is restored to competency, he will remain at a mental hospital.

"He will stay until he proves to the staff he's not dangerous to himself or others," Bayless said. "It could go for the rest of his life if he never gets better. If he gets better, he will go back to trial."

Loughner was examined by Drs. Christina Pietz, a staff psychologist at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, and Matthew Carroll, a San Diego-based forensic psychiatrist. The doctors agreed that Loughner is not competent.

They did not testify Wednesday, as prosecutors and attorneys for Loughner previously agreed to rely on the doctors' written reports.

Pietz filed a 52-page report with the court after conducting 12 interviews with Loughner over nine hours. Carroll filed a 43-page report following interviews during seven hours over two days.

The judge did not publicly release the reports, citing Loughner's medical-privacy rights.

12 News reporter Wendy Halloran contributed to this article.