Updated: Az. Congresswoman, Several Others, Shot in Grocery Store

Gabrielle Giffords was holding a "Congress on your Corner" event when shooting occurred.

WDBJ Web Staff WDBJ7

3:43 p.m. EST, January 8, 2011

6 people were killed, including a federal judge and 9 year old girl.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition following surgery.

President Barack Obama says authorities don't know what provoked the shootings, but he says
there will be a comprehensive investigation.

He is sending FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the investigation.

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Update: 5:09 p.m. Saturday

Authorities in Arizona say the alleged shooter has been identified as 22 year old Jared Lee Loughner. No word yet on a motive for today's shooting.

Update: 4:04 p.m. Saturday

Rep. Giffords is out of surgery. Doctor is "optimistic" about her recovery.

Her district director is among the fatally wounded in the shooting.

Tucson, Az. police chief says 5 people are listed in critical condition, and another 5 are undergoing surgery.

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Congressional officials say Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head and an aide is among 6 killed today when a gunman opened fire as the Arizona congresswoman met with constituents outside a grocery store in Tucson, Az.

18 people were injured, including other members of the lawmaker's staff.

The victims have been taken to a nearby hospital.

One official added the attack was carried out with an automatic weapon. We're told the alleged shooter is in police custody.

The FBI and local law enforcement are investigating the attack.

Giffords had just begun her third term.

The 40-year-old Democrat was re-elected in November, edging a tea party favorite.

She was a member of the Arizona House and Senate before coming to Washington.

We'll continue to update this story as more details are made available.

wdbj-az-congresswoman-several-other-01082011

Comments (7)

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pammyg at 10:18 AM January 10, 2011

SHIELD, you must have read what phillips, the head of TEAPARTY NATION, was stating, that this guy was a "liberal lunatic" and that the right must push back against the far left because "they" will try to use this event like they tried to use the oklahoma bombing event to push their own political agenda.

when it comes right down to it, it really doesn't matter; howvever, SHIELD you must admit that the majority of the hate-filled vitriol that is broadcast via the airwaves and television belong to limbaugh, hannity, o'reilly, beck and their ilk.

and when you have republican members of congress egging on teaparty demonstrators, holding a 'dont' tread on me' flag, and applauding their hate filled rhetoric and their insulting posters of President Barack Hussein Obama, even YOU must admit that is over the edge.

this hate that has spread like a cancer throughout this country did not begin until after Senator Obama was elected President of the United States of America; the hate and bigotry and racism that has been expressed through demonstrations (tea party mainly) and comments from radio and tv personalities of the far right is sickening and disgusting.

i pray to the goddess for all the victims and their families and i hope that each of us realizes this has gone too far.

lsdj420 at 7:25 AM January 10, 2011

The blame lies with the man or boy that decided he needed to take someones life. I can't wrap my head around someone that wants to end someones life that they don't even know. How can someone be that upset with a complete stranger. The world is so messed up and gets worse everyday. Politics have gotten out of hand when a person that has chosen to be a politician can't go to a public place without getting shot. This is a tragic event.

Mojorisin at 1:15 AM January 10, 2011

It has become very clear that the far right has already responded to the idea that the shooter of Giffords and the others was influenced by Conservative and Tea Party hate rhetoric. Some commentors have already claimed that Jared Loughner was a Liberal. Their evidence is a claim by a supposed former classmate who claims that he was a Liberal back in 2007. Their source is the Phoenix New Times, a rightwing political tabloid rag.

Watch Jared's videos. What he talks about, despite the fact that much of what he says is a deranged form of zen(?) or something, is more in line with Libertarian beliefs than with Liberals. He wants to go back to the gold standard. He believes the flag to be unconstitutional because using a strict interpretation of the Constitution the flag is not in the Constitution.

Now, who in America is talking about the Gold Standard? That's right, the Libertarians like Republican Ron Paul. Who is demanding a strict interpretation of the Constitution? That's right, the Libertarians and the Tea Party.

End of story.

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Updated: Az. Congresswoman, Several Others, Shot in Grocery Store

Gabrielle Giffords was holding a "Congress on your Corner" event when shooting occurred.

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