国际英语新闻：Suspect in U.S. Arizona shooting rampage appears in court

PHOENIX, the United States, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Jared Loughner, the suspect in Saturday's rampage shooting in Tucson, the U.S. state of Arizona, appeared in court on Monday afternoon to face felony charges.

The Sandra Day O'Connor Federal Courthouse in Phoenix was heavily guarded by police officers and Department of Homeland Security agents as the brief hearing was going on.

The appearing was presided over by U.S. Magistrate Lawrence Anderson who informed Loughner of the penalties he could face if he is found guilty of the crimes.

Wearing a tan detention uniform with his head shaven, Loughner answered questions in a deep, resonant voice. But most of the time he remained silent.

Loughner, 22, was accused of killing six people and wounding 14 others, including U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, at a gathering outside a grocery store in Tucson on Saturday.

U.S. District Judge John Roll and Gabe Zimmerman, a Giffords aide, were among the victims killed in the shooting, which presumably targeted Giffords.

Giffords, 40, was shot in the head and underwent surgery. She remains in critical condition and it was unknown whether she will be able to return to Congress.

Loughner could receive up to life in prison if convicted of shooting Giffords, and up to 20 years if convicted in the shootings of two other congressional aides.