Congresswoman among 18 shot in Arizona attack; 6 dead
By Marc Lacey and David M. Herszenhorn
The New York Times
Posted: 01/09/2011 01:00:00 AM MST
Updated: 01/09/2011 01:05:28 AM MST
TUCSON — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and at least 17 others were shot Saturday morning when a gunman opened fire outside a Safeway supermarket where Giffords was meeting with constituents.
A 22-year-old suspect was in custody, law enforcement officials said. But at a Saturday evening news conference, investigators said they were looking for a possible accomplice who might have helped the gunman.
Six of the victims died. Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said among those killed were John Roll, the chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and a 9-year-old girl.
Giffords, 40, who the authorities said was the target of the attack, was said to be in very critical condition at the University Medical Center in Tucson, where she was operated on by a team of neurosurgeons. Dr. Peter Rhee, medical director of the hospital's trauma and critical-care unit, said she had been shot once in the head, "through and through," with the bullet going through her brain.
President Barack Obama said at a news conference that the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert Mueller, was on his way to Arizona to oversee the investigation.
Richard Kastigar, a supervisor with the Sheriff's Department, said the gunman was 22. Investigators identified him as Jared Lee Loughner.
Authorities were seen entering the house of someone by that name about 5 miles from the shooting scene, an unincorporated area north of Tucson.
The shootings raised questions about potential political motives, though officials did not speculate about what might have provoked the attack. Nevertheless, there were immediate reverberations as Democrats decried the fierce partisan atmosphere in Giffords' district and top Republicans quickly condemned any outbreaks of violence.
Sheriff notes political vitriol
Mark Kimble, an aide to Giffords, said the shooting occurred about 10 a.m., in a small area between an American flag and an Arizona flag. He said he went into the store for coffee, and as he came out the gunman was walking up and started firing.
"Everyone hit the ground," Kimble said. "It was so shocking. I still can't believe this happened."
The gunman wore sunglasses and perhaps a hood of some sort, he said.
The U.S. Capitol Police, which is investigating the shooting, cautioned lawmakers "to take reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security."
Speaking of Giffords' condition, Rhee said at a news conference, "I can tell you at this time, I am very optimistic about her recovery." He added, "We cannot tell what kind of recovery, but I'm as optimistic as it can get in this kind of situation."
At a news conference Saturday evening, Sheriff Dupnik said there was "some reason to believe" that the suspect in custody did not act alone. Officials said they were seeking a person of interest, a 50-year-old, white male.
The sheriff said the shooting suspect "has kind of a troubled past" and had come to the attention of law enforcement before.
Though most officials did not speculate about what might have provoked the attack, Dupnik offered an emotional indictment of the state of political discourse.
"The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And unfortunately, I think Arizona has become sort of the capital, we have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry," he said. "There's reason to believe that this individual might have a mental issue, and I think that people who are unbalanced might be especially susceptible to vitriol."
Giffords, who represents Arizona's 8th District in the southeastern corner of the state, has been an outspoken critic of Arizona's tough immigration law, which is focused on identifying, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants. She had come under criticism for her vote in favor of the Democrats' health care law.
Police said the Giffords district office was evacuated late in the day after a suspicious package was found. Police later cleared the scene.
Giffords was speaking to constituents in a supermarket alcove under a large white banner bearing her name when a man ran up and began firing. He tried to escape on foot but was tackled by a bystander and taken into custody by police. The event was outside a Safeway supermarket and was an opportunity for constituents to meet with Giffords after she was sworn in for a third term Wednesday.
She first arrived in Washington when Democrats took control of the House in 2006 and narrowly survived a re-election bid in November.
Outrage, concern bipartisan
"I saw the congresswoman talking to two people, and then this man suddenly came up and shot her in the head and then shot other people," said Dr. Steven Rayle, a witness to the shootings and a former emergency room doctor who now works at a hospice. "I think it was a semiautomatic, and he must have got off 20 rounds."
Rayle said that Giffords slumped to the ground and that staff members immediately rushed to her aid.
"A staffer had his arm around her, and she was leaning against the window of the Safeway. He had a jacket or towel on her head," the doctor said.
Congressional leaders of both parties issued statements throughout the day expressing outrage at the shooting as well as concern and prayers for Giffords and her family.
Giffords is a centrist Democrat who survived a tough re-election fight last year in part by stressing her strong support for gun rights and for tougher immigration controls, including tighter border security, even though she opposed the controversial Arizona law.
In an interview at the Capitol last week, Giffords said she was excited to count herself among the Democrats who joined the new House Republican majority in reading the Constitution aloud from the House floor. She said she was particularly pleased with being assigned the reading of the First Amendment.
"I wanted to be here," she said. "I think it's important. Reflecting on the Constitution in a bipartisan way is a good way to start the year."
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The other victims
• Nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green of Tucson, just elected to the student council at her school. Born on Sept. 11, 2001, she had gone with a neighbor to the event because she was interested in government. Christina was featured in a book, "Faces of Hope: Babies born on 9/11."
• Gabe Zimmerman, 30, Giffords' community outreach director; engaged to be married.
• Dorwin Stoddard, 76, pastor of the Mountain Avenue Church of Christ.
• Dorthy Murray, 76.
• Phyllis Scheck, 79.
What are your thoughts on this, do you think the person who did it was fueled by the way AZ handles their immigration laws?
Community Forum
Topic: Congresswoman among 18 shot in Arizona attack; 6 dead (Read 4197 times)
October 11, 2009, 11:37:55 am
