New photos released of Tucson shooting suspect

Laura Donovan Contributor
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CNN released two new photographs Tuesday of 22-year-old gunman Jared Loughner, who is accused of killing six, injuring many more, and attempting to assassinate Ariz. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords during a Jan. 8 “Congress On Your Corner” event in Tucson.

The photos are slightly reminiscent of the first released mugshot of Loughner, in which he appears to be smiling in a less than sane manner. The new snapshots show Loughner grinning. One of the photographs reveals a bruise on the side of Loughner’s head and another below his eye.

U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Jeffrey Carter said Loughner had the wounds when taken in.

“He had those bruises when we took charge of him,” Carter said.

Authorities said the 22-year-old sustained the injuries from people at the event hitting and wrestling him after he opened fire.

The U.S. Marshals Service took the pictures of Loughner three days after the shooting.

Loughner is suspected of killing Giffords staffer Gabe Zimmerman, U.S. District Judge John Roll, and a 9-year-old girl named Christina Taylor Green, among others. Giffords, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, is recovering at a Houston hospital and making daily improvements.

Laura Donovan