Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and six others died after a gunman opened fire at a public event on Saturday, the Pima County, Ariz., sheriff’s office confirms.
The 40-year-old Democrat, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting a “Congress on Your Corner” event at a Safeway in northwest Tucson when a gunman ran up and started shooting, according to Peter Michaels, news director of Arizona Public Media.
At least three other people, including members of her staff, were injured. Giffords was transported to University Medical Center in Tucson.
This just happened, and things are still developing. Hopefully the reports of the deaths were in error, and the victims survived. One can only hope.
This hits a bit close to home.
I really, really hope this is just some random nutjob, rather than something political.
Update (1:01pm): Reuters says she’s still alive:
“She is currently in surgery. She’s alive,” University Medical Center spokeswoman Darci Slaten told Reuters. Slaten added that nine other shooting victims were being treated at the hospital.
Let’s hope she, and others, stay alive.
Update (2:37pm): The Arizona Republic says that the Congresswoman made it through surgery, but that several people, including a 9-year-old kid, were killed. Evidently the attacker was a 22-year old male, and opened fire using a pistol with an extended magazine.
“I really, really hope this is just some random nutjob, rather than something political.”
You and me both.
?I really, really hope this is just some random nutjob, rather than something political.?
It’s looking like the guy who did it is in fact nuttier than a Snickers Bar.
That won’t stop the media and the left (but I repeat myself) from blaming the Tea Party, though.