Arizona Shooting Suspect Used Social Media to Spread His Message-Click here http://bit.ly/hkkmtc to view full article

Jared Loughner, the 22-year-old suspected shooter of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others, was probably not entertaining notions of Internet superstardom as he publicized his anti-government ideas on various social media platforms. Yet, his digital footprint has left a deep imprint on law enforcement and the media. Both entities are poring over Loughner's current and defunct webpages for clues as to the mindset of the young man who is currently in custody.

Loughner appeared in court with a demeanor described as smug, refusing to talk to law enforcement since his arrest, and posing for mug shots with looks that could only be described as manic and disturbing. He has been described by those who knew him as a "ticking time bomb," by news outlets.

Loughner's MySpace page was taken down after being found by professional Internet hunters. His YouTube page features five videos on various topics, including currency, college and the constitutionality of the police force. The videos have been reposted numerous times by other YouTube members, and currently rank among the most watched videos on the site.

The videos have become fodder for the international community, some of whom are using them and the shootings to decry the United States as a trigger-happy nation of paranoid extremists. Former Cuban prime minister called the act "atrocious," while the British press has pontificated that attacks on American politicians are often arbitrary and extremely violent in nature. Many Arab nations were offended that the American media did not label it a terrorist act.

Though one of Loughner's classmates emailed Pima Community College school officials, where Loughner was a student, about his unstable behavior, no action was taken. This despite Loughner's videos having already come to the schools' attention, including one in which he calls the college unconstitutional.

Investigators are currently scouring the Internet for more traces of Loughner's digital footprint, but as of yet, the popular YouTube videos seem to be the central find.

Loughner currently faces five federal charges, for which the sentence could be death. Rep. Giffords is in critical but stable condition and under the close care of hospital staff.