Jared L. Loughner pleaded guilty on Tuesday to carrying out a shooting rampage here last year that left six people dead and 13 others wounded, including Gabrielle Giffords, then a member of the House of Representatives. In exchange, the government has agreed not to seek the death penalty.

In the hearing in Federal District Court, Judge Larry A. Burns found Mr. Loughner mentally compentent to admit to the crimes.

Under the terms of the deal brokered by his defense team and the prosecution, he will spend the rest of his life in prison. The deal also means that victims’ relatives and the shooting’s survivors will not have to endure the prospect of sitting through a lengthy trial of uncertain outcome.