TUCSON, Ariz. — Police say a suspicious vehicle has prompted them to close some streets in downtown Tucson, near the federal courthouse where a hearing for the Tucson shooting rampage suspect is under way.
KVOA-TV reports authorities have shut down a few of the major thoroughfares near where the hearing on Jared Lee Loughner’s mental status is taking place.
The station reports the suspicious vehicle is described as a white box truck. No additional details were immediately available.
Meanwhile, a psychologist has taken the stand at a hearing to determine if Loughner will spend more time undergoing psychological treatment.
Dr. Christina Pietz is treating Loughner at the Missouri prison facility where he has spent the past four months.
She testified Wednesday in front of U.S. District Judge Larry Burns that Loughner was devastated when he was told of his schizophrenia. She says he “didn’t want to be mentally ill.”
The 23-year-old Loughner sat expressionless with his lawyers and quietly listened to Pietz’s testimony. He looked thin and pale and was wearing a white T-shirt and khaki pants.
Two federal marshals stood behind him.
Burns will decide at the hearing whether it’s likely Loughner can be made competent to stand trial. He’ll also consider prosecutors’ request to extend Loughner’s stay at the Missouri facility by another eight months.
Burns required Loughner’s presence at the hearing in Tucson even though defense lawyers objected to it and argued that traveling would be disruptive for their mentally ill client.
Loughner wanted to attend the hearing because he wants to see his parents, who live in Tucson.
Four months ago, Burns found Loughner mentally unfit to stand trial after mental health experts concluded Loughner suffers from schizophrenia.