Accused Ariz. gunman researched executions

TUCSON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Tucson shooting spree suspect Jared Loughner went online to research lethal injection, solitary confinement and political killings, investigators say.

The 22-year-old college dropout's computer was seized immediately after his arrest at the Jan. 8 rampage that left six people, including a federal judge, dead and 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., wounded, The Washington Post reported. The newspaper cited law enforcement sources who said investigators tracked the Web sites Loughner visited in the weeks before the massacre in a supermarket parking lot.

"The impression investigators have is that he was trying to educate himself on assassinations and also research the consequences," a source close to the investigation told the Post.

Loughner rented a room at a Motel 6 the night before the shootings but spent much of his time running errands. Those included trips back to his home where he went online, posting a goodbye message.

Prosecutors are considering using the information from Loughner's computer to show he was aware what he was doing was wrong and understood the consequences.

Loughner was arraigned Monday on charges he tried to kill three federal employees. He faces many other federal and state charges that would make him eligible for the death penalty.