Jared Loughner was found capable of standing trial and entered his guilty plea after his psychologist, Dr. Christina Pietz, testified that he fully understood what he did on Jan. 8, 2011.
Loughner pled guilty to 19 charges. Thirty others were dismissed. He will be sentenced on Nov. 15.
In a statement, Mark Kelly said he and wife Gabrielle Giffords supported the plea deal:
“The pain and loss caused by the events of January 8, 2011 are incalculable. Avoiding a trial will allow us - and we hope the whole Southern Arizona community - to continue with our recovery and move forward with our lives."
Loughner only spoke when the judge addressed him directly:
U.S. District Judge Larry Burns: "Is that what you want to do? Have you made that choice to give up those rights and plead guilty?"
Jared Lee Loughner: "Yes, I understand."
Some of Loughner's victims attended the hearing.
