Loughner's Bizarre Classroom Behavior Raised Red Flags

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," January 10, 2011. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: Today we learned more about the disturbed individual behind this tragedy. Now, according to authorities, evidence has been uncovered at the home of Jared Lee Loughner that suggests he had been planning this massacre for months.

In addition, the Phoenix New Times is reporting that a former classmate of Loughner named Katie Parker described the gunman as a quote, "left-wing pot head." Now she also said Loughner met Congresswoman Giffords 2007, and after that encounter, he described her as quote, "stupid and unintelligent."

Now, several others who attended classes with Loughner at Pima Community College also raised red flags. One of them described Loughner's unusual behavior to Megyn Kelly just a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN CATES, FORMER CLASSMATE OF JARED LOUGHNER: He would smile a lot. Unwarranted smiles, he would laugh randomly. And no one knew what he was laughing at. He would clinch his fists when he grinned and that was probably the biggest thing that made people feel uncomfortable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: And joining me now to share his insights on the behavior of Jared Lee Loughner is Professor Ben McGahee who taught the suspect at Pima Community College, he comes to us tonight from the University Medical Center in Tucson. Professor, welcome to the program.

BEN MCGAHEE, LOUGHNER'S FORMER PROFESSOR: Thank you, Sean.

HANNITY: All right. First of all, why don't you tell us, you were teaching this guy, this shooter. Why don't you tell us what you know about him?

MCGAHEE: All right. When he first came to the class, you know, he felt like he was a normal kind of individual like a normal student until he kind of started disrupting the class when I started doing some math problems on the board. And all of a sudden, he came up with some random kind of senseless outburst, kind of like how can you deny math instead of accepting it? Just kind of threw me for a loop. Kind of like he was trying to get inside my mind or something.

And other students started noticing like physical symptoms, you know, like bright red face, kind of hysterical laughing, kind of creepy, kind of laughing to himself. And he was just -- and his hands and his parts of his body were shaking and trembling like he was under the influence of drugs or something like that. We all got very concerned after that first day of class.

HANNITY: Yes. I actually read the posting, I believe it was your class. There was a girl that would sit near the front door and that literally there were kids in your class that apparently approached you that were concerned that this is the guy that may come into a classroom with a gun.

MCGAHEE: Right.

HANNITY: Tell us about that.

MCGAHEE: Absolutely. He was -- yes, there's a lot of students that were, you know, coming up to me after class even one lady, you know, she has sat towards the back of the classroom and she was very concerned, you know, that -- very scared for her life.

And he even wrote a thing on a quiz that said, "Mayhem Fest." That was on there -- "Mayhem Fest," that kind of brought a red flag, kind of a warning signs that he was going to predict, some kind of attack and bring some kind of weapon like a gun to the classroom. And I even felt a little very concerned, you know, a little worried, you know, for my life as well as the students and for anyone attending the campus.

HANNITY: Yes. Professor --

MCGAHEE: It was just very tough to experience.

HANNITY: There were apparently about five incidents in college where, you know, police had to be called in. He was thrown out of school. There was another professor who described a story where, you know, he handed a paper in late, she said, all right, you can hand it in but you are going to get half credit, and became very combative, and then, you know, kicked out of school here, I assume relief to everybody. Were the police fully aware of how dangerous this guy was?

MCGAHEE: You know, there was a police officer that came to class, you know, about in the second week or so, or towards the end of the first week. And he just wanted to make his presence known in the classroom. Just was ensuring safety, you know, for all of our students. And just wanted to make sure everything was OK, including Jared. You know, they got into the classroom safely. And I was glad that he was there.

HANNITY: Yes. When you saw his behavior and him acting out in class and all the other students are complaining to you about his acting out in class, did you ever take the time to stop and talk to him?

MCGAHEE: Umm, did I ever take the time to stop kind of what I was doing or actually get someone like a counselor?

HANNITY: Either or?

MCGAHEE: Yes, I went to go see a counselor, contacted her. And she said, Jared, can you please come outside to talk to me for a few minutes? And then Jared said, sure. And then he looked at me with kind of an evil stare like, you know, like I was singling him out, like, you know, I was trying to get rid of him or something. I could tell he was very angry and frustrated. And it made me feel very uncomfortable after that moment.

HANNITY: Have you had a chance to speak with your students since this event? I know you are on record as saying, you were not surprised that it turned out to be him. Have you spoken with other students? And have they expressed the same sentiment?

MCGAHEE: I haven't spoke with them like directly, like in person, but I have e-mailed, one student really thanked me, you know, for using my intuition to my best ability and actually, you know, removing Jared from the classroom. I will be speaking to Linda pretty soon. She gave me a call this afternoon. So, I will be glad to give her a call and see how she is doing.

HANNITY: All right. Professor, we really appreciate.

MCGAHEE: I know that has to affect the -- thank you, Sean.

HANNITY: Thank you for being with us. And our thoughts and prayers go out with the entire Tucson community and obviously the families of the victims.

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