CONGRESSWOMAN ATTACK: ; Suspect acted alone, police in Arizona say Tucson man accused in slayings of six, including 9-year-old girl

INSIDE: Gifford prognosis 3A Life of alienation 3A Editorial 4A

TUCSON, Ariz. - Authorities on Sunday charged a 22-year-old manwith trying to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killingothers at a political event, revealing that he had scrawled on anenvelope the words "my assassination" and "Giffords."

The discoveries at his home in southern Arizona, however,provided few answers to a shocked nation, from the victims ofSaturday's shooting rampage to lawmakers worried about their safety:What motivated the rampage outside a supermarket that killed six andinjured 14?

Giffords, 40, lay in intensive care at a Tucson hospital, afterbeing shot in the head at close range. Doctors said she hadresponded repeatedly to commands to stick out her two fingers,giving them hope she may survive.

Court papers filed with the charges against Jared Loughner saidhe had previous contact with the Democratic lawmaker. The documentssaid he had received a letter from Giffords in which she thanked himfor attending a "Congress on your Corner" event at a mall in Tucsonin 2007.

Investigators carrying out a search warrant at his parents' homein a middle-class neighborhood found an envelope in a safe with thewords "I planned ahead," "My assassination" and the name "Giffords"next to what appears to be Loughner's signature.

An official familiar with the investigation said Sunday thatlocal authorities are looking at a possible connection betweenLoughner and an online group known for white supremacist, anti-immigrant rhetoric.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss theongoing investigation, said local authorities were examining theAmerican Renaissance website for possible motives.

The group's leaders said in a posting on their website thatLoughner never subscribed to their magazine. registered for any ofthe group's conferences or visited their Internet site.

The young man, who lived with his parents, was recently suspendedfrom his community college for disruptive behavior and told he couldnot return until a mental health professional determined he was nota danger to himself or others.

Police say he purchased the Glock pistol used in the attack atSportsman's Warehouse in Tucson in November. Authorities believe heacted alone: After questioning a cab driver who drove Loughner tothe grocery store, they cleared the driver of any involvement.

Prosecutors charged Loughner with one count of attemptedassassination of a member of Congress, two counts of killing anemployee of the federal government and two counts of attempting tokilling a federal employee. More charges are expected.

Loughner did not have an attorney yet. He is expected to appearin court today.

The federal public defender's office in Arizona is seeking anoutside attorney to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interestthat might arise and is asking that San Diego attorney Judy Clarkebe appointed to represent Loughner.

Clarke, a former federal public defender in San Diego andSpokane, Wash., served on teams that defended Oklahoma City bombingconspirator Timothy McVeigh, "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski and SusanSmith, a South Carolina woman who drowned her two sons in 1994.

People, meanwhile, crammed the synagogue where Giffords was amember, as well as at the Mountain Avenue Church of Christ, whichlost one member in the attack and saw another one wounded.

"I don't know how to grieve. This morning I don't have the magicpill, I don't have the Scripture... I can't wrap my head aroundthis," said the church's Rev. Mike Nowak, his strong preacher'svoice wavering.

Nowak said he received hundreds of e-mails from people sharingtheir prayers with the congregation.

Outside the hospital, candles flickered and people laid downbouquets of flowers, American flags and pictures of the personablepolitician they affectionately called "Gabby."

Giffords colleagues, shocked at the violence, vowed not to let itdeter them from meeting publicly, face to face, with theirconstituents. Some, however, acknowledged they were reviewing theirsecurity measures.

"I am very concerned about my safety and the safety of othermembers of Congress," said Rep. Bobby Rush, a Chicago Democrat."I've informed those who are in my midst that they should be muchmore vigilant."

Rush said the climate is dangerous for political leaders,particularly for those who have supported President Obama and hispolicies.

He said he doesn't plan to scale back any public appearances.

"We need to realize that every face in the crowd is not afriendly face," he said.

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., said he will proceed with publicmeetings. "I'm not going to let some lone gunman handcuffdemocracy," he said, adding he will take reasonable precautions.

Giffords, a conservative Democrat re-elected in November, facedthreats and heckling over her support for immigration reform and thehealth care overhaul. Her office was vandalized the day the Houseapproved the landmark health care measure.

It is not clear whether those issues motivated the shooter tofire on the crowd gathered to meet Giffords.

In a YouTube video, which featured text against a darkbackground, Loughner described inventing a new U.S. currency andcomplained about the illiteracy rate among people living inGiffords' congressional district in Arizona.

The six killed included a federal judge, John Roll; an aide toGiffords and 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, who was born onSept. 11, 2001 and was featured in a book called "Faces of Hope"that chronicled one baby from each state born on the day terroristskilled nearly 3,000 people.

The author, Christine Naman said: "Tragedy seems to have happenedagain."

Green was recently elected as a student council member and wentto the morning's event because of her interest in government.

Fourteen others were injured, including the three-term Democratlawmaker. Authorities said the dead included Roll; Green; Giffordsaide Gabe Zimmerman, 30; Dorothy Morris, 76; Dorwin Stoddard, 76;and Phyllis Schneck, 79.

AP photo Jared Loughner is accused of killing (clockwise from topleft) Christina Taylor Green, 9; Dorothy Morris, 76; Arizona FederalDistrict Judge John Roll, 63; Gabe Zimmerman, 30. Dorwin Stoddard,76; and Phyllis Schneck, 79.