Jared Loughner sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for Arizona shooting

(CBS/AP) TUCSON, Ariz. - Jared Loughner, the man convicted of killing six people and wounding 13 others including former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

PICTURES: Arizona gunman Jared Loughner

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns sentenced Loughner for the January 2011 attack at a Giffords political event in Tucson.

Several of Loughner's victims, including Gifford's Mark Kelly, spoke in court before the sentencing Thursday.

Patricia Maisch, who helped tackle Loughner on Jan. 8, was the first to speak in court, CBS affiliate KOLD reports. "That beautiful day our mental health system failed us. For six that failure was devastating and unimaginable," Maisch said.

According to the station, Mavanell Stoddard, whose husband died trying to shield her during the shooting, also addressed the court saying, "You took my precious husband and ruined my whole life. He died saving me." She said she hoped Loughner could can find Jesus, "I forgive you. I don't hate you. I hate the act you performed."

Kelly spoke with Giffords standing by his side, telling Loughner, "You tried to bring us into your dark, evil world. But know this, you failed."

"You may have put her bullet through her head, but you did not put a dent in her spirit," he said, KOLD reports.

As part of a plea deal, Loughner pleaded guilty three months ago to 19 federal charges in the shooting.

The agreement guaranteed that the 24-year-old would spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Both sides reached the deal after a judge declared that Loughner was able to understand the charges against him. After the shooting, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and underwent forcible psychotropic drug treatments.

Complete coverage of the Arizona Shooting on CBS News