PHOENIX (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors on Friday unsealed a new indictment against Tucson shooting rampage suspect Jared Lee Loughner, setting in motion the formal process of deciding whether to seek the death penalty.
The latest 49-count indictment charges Loughner, 22, with murder in the deaths of a federal judge and an aide to U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was gravely wounded in the attack at a meet-and-greet event for constituents.
It also charges Loughner with causing the deaths of four other people who were "participants at a federally provided activity" when they were gunned down at the January 8 event.
The indictment starts a formal review process at the U.S. Department of Justice of deciding whether to seek the death penalty against Loughner in connection with the murder charges, which are a capital offense, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Tucson.
(Reporting by David Schwartz in Phoenix; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Jerry Norton)
