Randy and Amy Loughner, the parents of accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner, haven’t said anything publicly since their son allegedly took a Glock 19 with a high capacity clip to an event hosted by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and killed six people and injured 14, including the congresswoman.
But the picture that is emerging from media interviews with their neighbors indicates they are isolated and have clashed with others in their neighborhood.
On Monday, a ply wood blockade in front of their gate to keep the media out ended up preventing FBI agents, at least temporarily, from entering the home, CBS News reported.
We also know that Randy Loughner clashed with neighbors over trash collection and was an extremely private person. Neighbors said that Jared’s mother, who works for the county, is very friendly and outgoing. As police swarmed Loughner’s home after the shooting, Newsweek reported, Randy Loughner leaned against his car, sobbing.
“Another neighbor went over to comfort him and came back and told us it was his son that shot [Giffords],” 18-year-old Aaron Martinez, who lives across the street from Loughner’s home, told reporters.
The Washington Post reported that Stephen Woods and his son Anthony live next door to the Loughners and saw the parents or the son walking their dog but they rarely spoke. The most Stephen Woods told the paper he saw of the family was when the father watered his garden in the morning.
“There was times when we’d be out with other neighbor kids, and Jared wouldn’t be allowed out. He’d be watching from the window or door,” neighbor Rick Dahlstrom told ABC News. “They all became very isolated. Randy was isolated, Amy wasn’t out anymore. Something changed. They just kept to themselves.”
Wayne Smith, one neighbor, who didn’t even know the family’s last name until their son showed up on the news, went over to the Loughner house to give the father the mail. He was told that the family may have a statement in the next few days.
“They’re hurting real bad,” Smith said. “They are devastated.”
Smith said Loughner’s mother is “in really bad shape, and we’re hoping we don’t have to take her to the hospital.”
“He’s a mess, and she is worse,” Smith said.
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