The man accused of a shooting rampage in which a United States congresswoman was seriously wounded has been deemed not mentally competent to stand trial.
Six people were killed and 13 wounded in a mass shooting outside a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona, in January.
A federal district court judge has ruled that the accused man, Jared Loughner, is incapable of understanding the proceedings against him.
Judge Larry Burns cited the conclusions of two experts that Mr Loughner, 22, suffers from schizophrenia, disordered thinking and delusions.
A further hearing in September will determine whether his condition has improved sufficiently for proceedings against him to resume.
The gravely injured congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, is still undergoing rehabilitation for a gunshot wound to the head.
