SHOCKING: Arizona Dem Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot in Head at Public Event — UPDATE: Giffords Has Died — UPDATE: Giffords NOT Dead, but in Critical Condition (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on January 8, 2011
Breaking News: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona has been shot while at a public event this morning - updated news reports state that Giffords is NOT dead as was reported earlier, but is in surgery and in critical condition
I’m shaking with shock — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a moderate Democrat congresswoman in Arizona, has been shot point-blank in the head at a public event in Tucson. She and members of her staff who were also shot have been rushed to a hospital. The gunman was immediately apprehended.
It was just announced minutes ago on a local Arizona news station and a few online news sources that Rep. Giffords has died from her injuries. Several others, at least six, have also died.
More updates through the day as they become available. Heartfelt prayers go to those shot and their families as we wait for more details.
Newest update, 12:51 pm AZ time: New local reports have Giffords NOT dying, but in critical condition. She is currently in surgery. At this point, the gunman’s identity and motivations have not been released. CBS just reported that he is about 21 or 22 years old and it appears that he was a lone gunman.
Live feed from KOLD News 13 here.
This observation from Patterico’s Pontifications:
Update by Aaron Worthing: As per Patterico’s admonition I won’t try to follow, Ping-Pong style, every update, but this seems pretty definitive that rumors of her demise were greatly exaggerated. From Cnn:
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is currently undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the head, a spokeswoman for the University Medical Center in Tucson said.
Nine patients were brought to the hospital, including a child. All of them are in either serious or critcial condition and are undergoing surgery, spokeswoman Darci Slaten said.
And this is new:
A federal judge was also among those shot, a law enforcement official said. It is not clear whether he was among those taken to the hospital.
Of course today is an object lesson on why breaking news stories are often wrong, so take that with a grain of salt, too. By the way, why is Cnn keeping these people anonymous? At least an explanation for why they are doing it should be given.
Update by Aaron Worthing: Take all of this with a grain of salt, but I figured this AJC blog was worth citing because it was the first to identify the federal judge allegedly shot, United States District Court John Roll, and the same article says he is dead. So let’s say it is at least true that he was shot. Which official then, is the target, and which was caught in the crossfire? We can only speculate, which is why making political hay out of it is doubly stupid.
Update, 1:55 pm AZ Time: Press conference on local AZ TV that Giffords should survive. Thank God.
Earlier postings below…
From ABC News, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot at Grocery Store Event:
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range today outside a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store where she was holding a campaign event, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Giffords was among as many as 12 people reportedly wounded in the shooting, and according to Congressional sources, several people on the Deomcrat’s staff were among the wounded.
She was taken to University Medical Center, where a hospital spokesman confirmed she was alive. But the extent and seriousness of her injuries were not being released.
A law enforcement source told ABC affiliate KGUN-TV in Tucson that the shooter was in custody.
Giffords, a Democrat, was holding a “Congress on Your Corner” event today at a Safeway supermarket in northwest Tucson.
From ABC News, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot at Grocery Store Event:
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range today outside a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store where she was holding a campaign event, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Giffords was among as many as 12 people reportedly wounded in the shooting, and according to Congressional sources, several people on the Democrat’s staff were among the wounded.
She was taken to University Medical Center, where a hospital spokesman confirmed she was alive. But the extent and seriousness of her injuries were not being released.
A law enforcement source told ABC affiliate KGUN-TV in Tucson that the shooter was in custody.
Giffords, a Democrat, was holding a “Congress on Your Corner” event today at a Safeway supermarket in northwest Tucson.
From MSNBC, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona reportedly shot:
U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head while holding a public event in Tucson, according to medial reports.
Up to 12 others were injured after an unidentified gunman ran up and began shooting indiscriminately as Giffords addressed supporters outside a Safeway grocery store, The Associated Press reported.
Giffords was shot point blank in the head, according to Fox News.
Giffords, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting her first “Congress on Your Corner” event at the Safeway in northwest Tucson, NPR reported.
The gunman was in custody, according to media reports.
Giffords, 40, a Democrat, is married to U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly. She took office in January 2007, emphasizing issues such as immigration reform, embryonic stem-cell research, alternative energy sources and a higher minimum wage.
Earlier events in Tucson, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Sierra Vista, and Douglas had attracted between at least a crowd of 150, according to a statement announcing the event.
This is an interview with Rep. Giffords earlier in the week.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot at a Tucson, AZ Safeway Store | January 8, 2011
UPDATE:
From AJC.com, Arizona congresswoman dies in shooting:
NPR is reporting U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was among seven killed in a shooting Saturday during a public event outside a grocery store in Tucson.
The Democrat, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting a “Congress on Your Corner” event at the Safeway in northwest Tucson when a gunman ran up and started shooting at about 10 a.m. local time, according to Peter Michaels, news director of Arizona Public Media.
Giffords and others were transported to University Medical Center in Tucson.
At least 15 shots were heard by witnesses. At least three bodies were on the ground after the shooting.
The suspect is in custody, according to televised reports.
UPDATE from Gateway Pundit, UPDATE: OH NO, SHE’S DEAD!… US REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS SHOT IN HEAD in Arizona! 15 People Shot! (Video):
According to police the gunman put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger.
Reportedly a 12 year-old girl was also killed.
The shooter, according to my contact, is an Afghan War veteran.Giffords was meeting constituents at a Safeway in Tucson.
Witnesses describe the shooter as being in his late teens or twenties.
SHE’S DEAD! REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS SHOT IN ARIZONA
Despicable — left-wing websites are going wild, blaming conservatives, Sarah Palin, tea partiers, the Constitution, you name it, even though NO reports on the man’s ideology, race, or motivations have been released. Stupid liberal sheep are always ready to spew moronic blame without a shred of evidence. Leftists likely don’t know that Giffords was in full support of citizens’ rights to bear arms and was a gun enthusiast — she also read aloud from the First Amendment on the House floor this week and is cracking down on illegal immigration from Mexico. Additionally, a heinous, rambling piece titled “My CongressWOMAN voted against Nancy Pelosi! And is now DEAD to me!” was posted on that left-wing sleaze site Daily Kos. It has been taken down, but attentive conservatives have posted the Google cache link of it before it was removed.
On the other hand, I’ve read nothing but prayer requests on right-wing sites. Figures.
About the author
My family and I are praying for US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and for the others who have been shot.
thoughts & condolences go out to the family and loved ones of those killed in Arizona today, especially to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’s family.