Officials say suspect researched injection

TUCSON In the weeks and days before the shooting rampage inTucson, suspect Jared Lee Loughner surfed the Internet on hiscomputer in what investigators believe was an effort to prepare forhis alleged assassination attempt, law enforcement sources familiarwith the investigation said. Loughner pulled up several Web sitesabout lethal injections and solitary confinement in prison, said thesources, who asked to be anonymous because the investigation isongoing. He also viewed Internet sites about political assassins,according to an analysis of Loughners computer that was completed byinvestigators last week, the sources said. Police seized Loughnerscomputer when they forcibly entered his family home in Tucson onJan. 8, shortly after the shooting outside a Safeway that killed sixpeople and injured 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). He has entered a not guilty plea in connection with federalcharges. On the night before the shooting, Loughner rented a room ata Motel 6 near the railroad tracks on the western edge of Tucson.Using the room as a staging ground for a series of pre-dawn errands,Loughner drove back and forth several times between the motel andhis home, where he used his computer for the last time, sourcessaid. At one point early in the morning, he posted a bulletin on hisMyspace page titled Goodbye friends, according to investigators.Prosecutors hope to use the information found on Loughners computer,along with notes seized in his home, to indicate that Loughner, 22,was not insane and knew right from wrong. They have turned over tothe defense the information they obtained from the computer, as wellas discs containing about 250 interviews conducted by investigators.The impression investigators have is that he was trying to educatehimself on assassinations and also research the consequences, saidone source close to the investigation. The source said Loughnerpulled up sites that explained the process and effects of lethalinjections. Special Agent Jason Pack, a spokesman for the FBI, wouldnot comment on the information in Loughners computer, which is inthe possession of the FBI. Jason Ogan, spokesman for the Pima CountySheriffs Office, also would not comment and said the sheriff wouldmake no further comments on the investigation. Loughner wasarraigned in a federal courthouse in Phoenix on Monday. Judy Clarke,Loughners defense attorney from California, asked the court to enterthea not-guilty plea on his behalf on three counts of attempting tokill federal employees, including Giffords, who is recovering from agunshot wound to the head and was moved Wednesday from MemorialHermann hospital in Houston to the Institute for Rehabilitation andResearch at Memorial Hermann. Loughner was also indicted on chargesof attempting to assassinate two of Giffordss aides, Ron Barber andPam Simon, who were injured in the attack. Two other federalemployees, U.S. District Judge John M. Roll and another Giffordsaide, Gabe Zimmerman, were killed. Assistant U.S. Attorney WallaceH. Kleindienst indicated in court that more charges are expected.Prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Larry Burns of California, whois presiding over the case, that they will try to have all of thefederal charges filed within 45 days, including the two murdercharges. Loughner also is likely to face a raft of state charges inthe shootings of the other non-federal employees who were killed andinjured, including a nine-year-old girl who was slain in themassacre.