Jared Lee Loughner was indicted on 49 charges in an Arizona court Friday for his alleged role in a mass shooting that happened outside a Safeway in Tucson in January, killing 6 and injuring 13, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Some were surprised that the grand jury indicted Loughner on counts stemming from all victims, not just the federal employees.

The Arizona Republic reported:

The additional charges were made under a provision in federal civil rights law that is usually applied to hate crimes, but can be extended to crimes against any person "participating in or enjoying any benefit, service, privilege, program, facility, or activity provided or administered by the United States" - in this case, Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner," a meet-and-greet event with her Tucson constituents.

The federal law forbids anyone from injuring, intimidating or interfering with any such person, or even attempting to do so.

Some of the charges against Loughner are capitol offenses, meaning the U.S. Department of Justice now must decide whether to seek life in prison or the death penalty for the alleged gunman.

"This indictment involves potential death-penalty charges, and department rules require us to pursue a deliberate and thorough process," Arizona U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke said in a statement.

The indictment includes the original charge of attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who officials say was Loughner’s primary target. Giffords has been recovering at a rehabilitation center in Houston since she left a Tucson hospital in late January.

Loughner is currently being held in federal custody in Tucson, and is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges on Wednesday.

To see the new indictment, click here (via The Arizona Republic).