Alleged Arizona shooter Jared Lee Loughner has Jewish mother, acquaintance says

An acquaintance of Jared Lee Loughner, the accused gunman in the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, says his mother is Jewish.

Bryce Tierney, a friend of Loughner from high school, told Mother Jones magazine that the alleged gunman posted “Mein Kampf” as a “favorite book” on a social media site in part to provoke his mother, who Tierney says is Jewish.

Amy Loughner’s maiden name is Totman, according to Arizona public records, and she married Randy Loughner in 1986. Totman is a common old English name and JTA could not uncover any record of Jewish affiliation for the family. Jewish Tucsonians said they were unaware of the family.

Loughner, 22, waived bail on Monday when he appeared in a federal courtroom to face two federal charges of murder and three charges of attempted murder. He likely will face additional state murder charges.

Saturday’s shooting at a Tucson shopping mall left Giffords, 40, critically injured and killed six others. Giffords, a Democrat, is the first Jewish woman elected to federal office from Arizona.