U.S. Rep shot in the head, 6 dead

[brunota2003]

Surprised there isn't a topic on this yet...

TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) – Representative Gabrielle Giffords was fatally shot during a public appearance on Saturday, National Public Radio said.

NPR said a gunman ran up to Giffords, 40, a Democrat, and opened fire. The suspect was taken into custody, NPR said.

Media reports said about a dozen other people also were shot.

(Writing by Bill Trott, editing by Anthony Boadle)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_usa_shoot ... gresswoman

[brunota2003]

Here is what I know so far (watching FoxNews)

- Her and 4 others (including one child) are confirmed dead, and from reports there are anywhere from 12 to 15 injured.
- The gunman is in custody after being shot by security (and some reports stand bystanders pounced on him)
- Giffords (per reports from earlier) was shot point blank in the head
- The shooting was "indiscriminate"

Latest from Yahoo!

TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) – Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona died after being shot in the head while meeting constituents at a grocery store in Tucson, NPR reported on Saturday.

Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat in her third term in Congress, was shot point blank by an unidentified gunman who fired indiscriminately into the crowd, NPR and other U.S. media said.

About a dozen others at the meeting were shot and the gunman was wrestled to the ground and taken into custody, Fox said, citing an eyewitness.
[ For complete coverage of politics and policy, go to Yahoo! Politics ]

Giffords was airlifted to a hospital to a hospital after the shooting.

Re-elected in the November 2 election, Giffords focused on immigration reform, military issues, stem cell research and alternative energy while serving in Congress. She was married to U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by Paul Simao, editing by Bill Trott)

[brunota2003]

Apparently someone at the hospital dropped the ball or something...now she is alive and in surgery. I am hoping this is true, as I don't want to see anyone dead.

From Yahoo!

TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) – Representative Gabrielle Giffords was alive but in surgery at a hospital on Saturday after a shooting that also injured at least nine other people, a hospital spokeswoman said.

An earlier report from National Public Radio said Giffords had died.

"She is currently in surgery. She's alive," University Medical Center spokeswoman Darci Slaten told Reuters.

Slaten said there were nine other shooting victims at the hospital with serious injuries.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Bill Trott)

[brunota2003]

Okay...here is the latest:

TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) – A member of Congress from Arizona was shot and seriously wounded on Saturday by a man who opened fire at a meeting she was holding in Tucson.

Gabrielle Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat in her third term in the House of Representatives, was airlifted to a hospital in Tucson shortly after being shot in the head at point blank range at a Safeway supermarket in the Arizona city.

"She is currently in surgery. She's alive," University Medical Center spokeswoman Darci Slaten told Reuters. "She was shot in the head," Slaten later told CNN.

Slaten added that nine others were being treated at the hospital, all of them in critical or serious condition. One of the wounded was a child.

News reports said the suspected gunman was in custody. There was no word yet on his motives.

NPR radio, citing the sheriff's office in Pima County, Arizona, initially reported that Giffords and six others had died in the shooting, though it later said there were conflicting reports.

Giffords was hosting a "Congress on Your Corner" event -- public gatherings to give her constituents a chance to talk directly with her -- when attacked from about four feet away, NPR said.

It said the suspect tried to run away but was tackled by a bystander.

"I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff," House Speaker John Boehner said in statement.

"An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society. Our prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured, and their families. This is a sad day for our country."

Andrea Gooden, an eyewitness who was working across the street from the event, told Fox news that she heard about 15 consecutive gunshots.

Re-elected in the November 2 midterm elections that gave Republicans control of the House, Giffords has focused on immigration reform, military issues, stem cell research and alternative energy while serving in Congress. She is married to U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly.

Giffords served on the House Armed Services, Science and Technology committees.

Before going to Washington, Giffords served in the Arizona state legislature from 2000 to 2005 and ran her family's tire and automotive business.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Writing by Paul Simao and Frances Kerry, Editing by Anthony Boadle)

[JQ Public]

What a terrible terrorist attack!

[brunota2003]

I read a comment on the news article that apparently MSNBC is reporting one of the Drug Cartels in Mexico claimed responsibility? I cannot confirm that, I'm on dial up and having enough issues loading a page without images. For all I know, it could be someone just trying to stir up trouble.

[brunota2003]

I haven't found anything pointing toward the drug cartel comment. Think it might of been someone stirring up trouble (unless I over looked something). Plus, no other news articles are saying anything about it, so.

Here is the latest:

TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) – A congresswoman from Arizona was shot and seriously wounded and six other people were killed by a man who opened fire at a meeting the politician was holding in Tucson on Saturday, officials said.

Gabrielle Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat in her third term in the House of Representatives, was airlifted to a hospital in Tucson after being shot in the head at point-blank range outside a Safeway supermarket in the Arizona city.

Six people were killed, and a "number of individuals" were wounded including Giffords in the attack, in which a total of 18 people were shot, Rick Kastigar, an official from the Pima County Sheriff's Department, told CNN.

He said the suspected gunman was in custody. NBC News said the suspected gunman was Jared Laughner, 22, of Arizona.

NBC cited officials as saying one of the dead was federal judge John Roll.

President Barack Obama deplored the attack as an "unspeakable tragedy," saying in a statement that "while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded."

Giffords was undergoing surgery.

"The congresswoman is still in surgery. The others are still in surgery as well. Their conditions range from serious to critical. They are all either in surgery or coming out," University Medical Center spokeswoman Darci Slaten told Reuters.

One of the victims was a 9-year-old girl, Slaten said.

Giffords was hosting a "Congress on Your Corner" event -- public gatherings to give her constituents a chance to talk directly with her -- when attacked from about 4 feet away, NPR said.

It said the suspect tried to run away but was tackled by a bystander.

[HURAKAN]

Jared Lee Loughner Identified As Gabrielle Giffords Shooter

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/0 ... 06243.html

[Category 5]

the 9 year old girl was the granddaughter of former Phillies Manager Dallas Green. I note her ironic birthday, 9/11/01

http://www.csnphilly.com/01/09/11/Dalla ... feedID=704

[Stephanie]

the 9 year old girl was the granddaughter of former Phillies Manager Dallas Green. I note her ironic birthday, 9/11/01

http://www.csnphilly.com/01/09/11/Dalla ... feedID=704

I heard that she was his granddaughter but not the birthday!

My prayers go out to all of the victims and their families. Totally senseless.

[Ptarmigan]

Fred Phelps and his whackjob gangs are planning to picket the victims of the shooting.
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/15660

[HURAKAN]

that's just beyond belief. WOW, so much hate.

[sandpiper]

How could a shooting which targeted a member of Congress be deemed "indiscriminate"? That would be an amazing coincidence if the shooter just "happened" to shoot a member of congress. Maybe it is just a legal technicality that they have to call it indiscriminate.

[StormingB81]

Read something more sickening! That baptiest church that has been protesting all the funerals are going to protest these funerals..how sickening!!! Here is the article

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/0 ... 06319.html

[coriolis]

Hey Everybody, I removed two posts that suggested that the shooter should have picked a different group of victims.

That's just wrong. Don't do it again.


Also, don't let this turn into a political debate. Staff will be watching.

[vbhoutex]

How could a shooting which targeted a member of Congress be deemed "indiscriminate"?

It was either said prior to determining she was the target or they are referring to everyone else who was shot.

[brunota2003]

How could a shooting which targeted a member of Congress be deemed "indiscriminate"?

It was either said prior to determining she was the target or they are referring to everyone else who was shot.

I believe at first they thought he ran into the crowd and just started opening fire (which to me seemed odd, considering she was shot at basically point blank range in the head...execution style almost?). Now I think they think she was the target, and everyone else was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Victims of opportunity.

[Florida1118]

Unless declared insane, and possibly even if, he's going to face the death penalty. Yet another horrid act to add to human history. Bless those lost and the families.

[Stephanie]

Unless declared insane, and possibly even if, he's going to face the death penalty. Yet another horrid act to add to human history. Bless those lost and the families.

Amen.

[Ptarmigan]

Looking Behind the Mug-Shot Grin
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/us/16 ... .html?_r=2

Truly a disturbed individual.