2011 January 8. Gabrielle Giffords, the Democratic Congresswoman from Arizona was gravely injured from a gunshot wound to the head, fired at close range this morning a little after 10AM local time at a Safeway store in Tucson AZ.
Initial reports from the Associated Press and an Arizona news source claimed that up to seven people were shot and four of these individuals had succumbed to their wounds.
However, at a news conference this afternoon held by the director of the Trauma Unit at University Medical Center, only one individual has died. According to Dr. Peter Rhee, ten individuals were received at the hospital. Five are in critical condition and five patients are undergoing surgery.
Rhee emphatically stated that Giffords “was not deceased.” She had undergone surgery and was "following commands." The doctor was "optimistic" about her recovery. Giffords is under anesthesia and will be moved to intensive care. Dr. Rhee described her wound as a single gunshot wound “through and through” the head. The bullet “went through her brain.”
According to one report, Ms. Giffords was speaking at her newly initiated “Congress on Your Corner” event when a lone gunman ran up, fired repeatedly and then tried to run away. Early conflicting reports stated that anywhere from five to 18 others were injured. A federal judge at the event was reportedly killed. Those shot included members of her staff and attendees at the public get together. The gunman was tackled by bystanders and is in custody.
A report from the Arizona Republic/12News Breaking News Team confirmed that the Pima County Sheriff’s office was investigating a multiple shooting at the Safeway. This same news story quotes an unnamed witness at a nearby Sprint store who told CNN that he heard “15 to 20 shots” fired and that there were two bodies on the ground in front of the Safeway. This individual also stated that at the time of the event, people were shouting that "Gabrielle Giffords has been shot."
A report from the NY Times stated Giffords was gravely wounded and in surgery. The article contained eyewitness testimony from a former medical doctor at the scene, who stated that Giffords was greeting people at a table when the gunman came from behind her and began firing.
Dr. Steven Rayle told the NY Times that Giffords slumped to the ground after being fired upon and her staff immediately came to her aid. Rayle performed CPR on victims, including a young child who was critically injured from bullet wounds. The nine-year old girl has reportedly died from her wounds.
The doctor described the gunman as a shabbily-dressed white male in his 20s with short hair. The shooter has been identified as 22 year-old Jared Lee Loughner.
In a MSNBC interview with Rep. Giffords in March, she discussed the violent threats aimed at members of Congress after the Health Care vote. Giffords talked about vandalism to her Tucson office along with heated rhetoric from external sources and emails. In particular, she mentioned that her district was on the Sarah Palin “targeted list,” and illustrated with the cross hairs of a gun sight. Giffords urged community and political leaders to come together and resolve their differences through a democratic process.
Giffords is serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives and was first sworn into the U.S. House four years ago in January 2007, representing the 8th Congressional District. A member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, Giffords serves on several Committees including Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology. She is the first Jewish representative elected by the residents of Arizona. She married U.S. Navy Captain and astronaut Mark E. Kelly in November 2007. On January 6 of this year, Giffords introduced legislation that would cut the salary of U.S. Congressional members by five percent. Her government website promotes the “Congress on Your Corner” event that resulted in her injuries.
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