New FBI footage from 2011 Tucson massacre shows gunman casually bought water moments before shooting rampage
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has recently released to the public thousands of photos and one video of their investigation into the Tucson Massacre of 2011 where six people died and 13 were injured, including Gabby Giffords, a former US Rep.
One of the photos in the collection shows deputies from the Pima County Sheriff's Office pinning down the lone gunman, Jared Loughner, to the ground after he went after Giffords on January 8, 2011, at a "meet your constituent" event.
Loughner's main target in the incident that took place outside a Safeway supermarket was Giffords. As a result of the attack, she was left with the right side of her body being partially paralyzed.
Many of the photos that were published on the FBI's website on April 4 were of belongings that were abandoned at the crime scene. This included cell phones, jewelry, and clothing.
One of the videos that have been uploaded on the site shows surveillance footage that was taken from the inside of the store just minutes before the shooting started.
The footage showed Loughner in a black hoodie walking around inside and buying a bottle of water.
Nine-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, US District Court Judge John Roll and Giffords' aide Gabe Zimmerman were among those who were killed in the shooting.
Loughner wanted to escape the death penalty so he took a plea deal instead. He was sentenced in 2012 to life in prison for the mass shooting.
The FBI has said that they contacted the victims who survived as well as the families of all the victims who died before making the photos and video from their investigation public.
It was revealed that Loughner fired 33 shots in the parking lot outside the supermarket where the town hall was taking place. One of the bullets hit Giffords from three feet away which almost killed her.
Giffords has become an influential gun control activist since her recovery from the attempted assassination. She supports 2nd Amendment rights but she calls for a lot more common sense with regard to gun reform.
The entire collection of the FBI evidence can be found on their website here.