6 Killed, 13 Wounded in attack on Arizona Congresswoman

Vicksburg Daily News is currently gathering more information on this breaking story. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) is in the ICU at a Tucson, Arizona hospital following a deadly shooting at a local Safeway supermarket.  Congresswoman Giffords was holding one of her popular town hall style events called “Congress on Your Corner.” There were six people killed in the shooting, including US District Court Justice John Roll, Rep. Giffords’ Director of Community Outreach, 30 year-old, Gabe Zimmerman and 9 year-old Christina Taylor Green.  Green was taken to Congresswoman Giffords’ “Congress on Your Corner” event at a local Safeway store by a neighbor.  That neighbor, according to Green’s uncle, decided to “invite Christina to the event because she thought [Christina] would enjoy it.”  Green had just been elected to her school’s student council. There are thirteen other victims, including Rep. Giffords, recovering from injuries in today’s violent attack.  Two of those victims are on the Congresswoman’s staff. Police took 22-year-old Jared Loughner, a student at Pima College in Tucson into custody as the alleged shooter.  Pima County Sheriff, Clarence Dupnik, said at a press conference that Loughner, who he described as unstable, acted as the lone shooter in today’s attack but that police are actively in pursuit of a second suspect who they believe collaborated with Loughner.  He said that Loughner was being uncooperative and had “invoked his rights.” Dupnik said that police had been in contact with Loughner because of inflammatory statements and threats to other public figures in the recent past.  The sheriff, 74, also stated that there was a report of a “suspicious package at the Congresswoman’s headquarters” that was being investigated.  The press conference also revealed that the Congresswoman did not request, nor did she have a security detail with her at the time of the attack. Multiple news agencies have reported that Loughner posted videos on YouTube and other social sites exhibiting his distrust in government.  Some reports have made their way into the public eye stating that Loughner had a “suicide note” on his person when he was subdued by two unidentified people from the crowd gathered for the event.  Sheriff Dupnik, when asked about the note, replied, “I’m not at liberty to talk about that.” Dr. Peter Rhee, a surgeon and chief of the trauma, critical care and emergency surgery, said he is “very optimistic” about the congresswoman’s recovery.  State Sen. Linda Lopez, a close friend of Giffords’, told Fox News that the three-term congresswoman was shot in the temple and the bullet exited through her forehead. Lopez said Giffords was responding to commands. Giffords was re-elected to her third term as representative of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District this past November. She was one of 19 Democrats who voted against House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for speaker this week.]]]]> ]]>