Sunday, January 9, 2011

Take-Aways From Law Enforcement Press Conference

Posted By on Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 11:34 AM

— Dupnik: The investigation is "far from over," but is progressing very smoothly.

— FBI Director Robert Mueller: "This was an attack on our institutions and an attack on our way of life." He IDs Jared Lee Loughner as a suspect.

— Still trying to determine whether others were involved.

— "All logical precautions are in place" to protect other public officials, though there are no specific threats at this time.

— Regarding motive: It's very early to make speculations, but a court filing later today may elaborate. That complaint will include specific possible charges.

— Regarding accomplices: "That is something we're closely looking at, and we are pursuing all leads." Still looking for individual—in photo released earlier—who may have walked into Safeway with Loughner.

— Mueller declines to get into specifics on law enforcement "interactions" with Loughner after his arrest.

— Weapon was a Glock 9mm, purchased in November.

— Suspicious package at Giffords' HQ contained no explosives, but officials are still investigating.

— It appears that Loughner attended a "similar event" held by Giffords back in 2007. Dupnik later clarifies that there was correspondence between Loughner and Giffords' office in 2007 and that he was "invited to attend" such an event.

— Law enforcement is investigating media reports that Loughner may have ties to hate groups/hate websites. Mueller says law enforcement is examining computers seized from Loughner.

— Discussions are ongoing regarding how to make sure representatives are more secure at public events.

— Dupnik lauds heroism of a woman who grabbed a magazine away from the shooter as he was trying to reload. He says a spring on another ammunition magazine—with 31 rounds—that the shooter did manage to insert then failed. He says the heroic woman was shot as she was taking the magazine away. Two men then subdued the shooter. The first magazine also included 31 rounds.

— Roll showed up because he was in the area and wanted to discuss some business with Giffords. "He was very nearby Gabrielle," Dupnik says of Roll when shots started.

— When asked by a reporter, Dupnik explains that his anger—as expressed yesterday—is at people who express paranoia and anger toward the government on a 24/7 basis.

— Dupnik calls Arizona "the tombstone of the United States of America." He criticizes the Arizona Legislature for pushing to allow weapons pretty much everywhere. He says college presidents, not the Legislature, should determine what happens on their campuses.