Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in an intensive care unit following surgery for a gunshot wound in the head at close range, the University of Arizona Medical Center announced Saturday afternoon.
Dr. Peter Rhee, a surgeon and chief of the trauma, critical care and emergency surgery, said he is optimistic about the congresswoman's recovery.
However, Federal District Judge John M. Roll was shot and killed during the town-hall style event outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson.
At least 19 people were shot at Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" event, including three members of the Democratic congresswoman's staff in Arizona. Five have died, including one of Giffords' aides, and nine are in critical condition at the University of Arizona Medical Center.
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 and she was confident that she will survive surgery but is not sure what Giffords' long term prognosis is.
Fox News confirmed that a 22-year-old white male named Jared Loughner was taken into custody as the alleged shooter. Police reportedly had also arrested a second suspect.
According to the law enforcement official, the suspect began shouting something before shooting wildly with an automatic weapon. Shots then rang out from the crowd -- a security agent or someone else fired at the suspect who survived.
Giffords, 40, has held multiple "Your Corner" events over the past four years, an aide told Fox News, adding that she had held three previous events at this venue before.
In November, Giffords was re-elected to her third term as representative of Arizona's 8th Congressional District, winning a tight race against a Tea Party candidate. She was one of 19 Democrats who voted against House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for speaker this week.
Giffords was first elected to Congress 2006 when she rode a wave of Democratic victories.
She was a member of the Arizona House and Senate before coming to Washington. She is married to astronaut Mark Kelly.
President Obama issued a statement, calling the shooting "an unspeakable tragedy."
"We do not yet have all the answers," he said. "What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."
House Speaker John Boehner condemned the attack on Giffords.
"I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff," he said in a statement. "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society."
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police said the agency "remains at a high level of readiness, consistent with our operating condition on U.S. Capitol Grounds. We continue to maintain a robust presence."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/08/arizona-congresswoman-reportedly-shot-public-event/#ixzz1AU318avO
Dr. Peter Rhee, a surgeon and chief of the trauma, critical care and emergency surgery, said he is optimistic about the congresswoman's recovery.
However, Federal District Judge John M. Roll was shot and killed during the town-hall style event outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson.
At least 19 people were shot at Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" event, including three members of the Democratic congresswoman's staff in Arizona. Five have died, including one of Giffords' aides, and nine are in critical condition at the University of Arizona Medical Center.
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 and she was confident that she will survive surgery but is not sure what Giffords' long term prognosis is.
Fox News confirmed that a 22-year-old white male named Jared Loughner was taken into custody as the alleged shooter. Police reportedly had also arrested a second suspect.
According to the law enforcement official, the suspect began shouting something before shooting wildly with an automatic weapon. Shots then rang out from the crowd -- a security agent or someone else fired at the suspect who survived.
Giffords, 40, has held multiple "Your Corner" events over the past four years, an aide told Fox News, adding that she had held three previous events at this venue before.
In November, Giffords was re-elected to her third term as representative of Arizona's 8th Congressional District, winning a tight race against a Tea Party candidate. She was one of 19 Democrats who voted against House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for speaker this week.
Giffords was first elected to Congress 2006 when she rode a wave of Democratic victories.
She was a member of the Arizona House and Senate before coming to Washington. She is married to astronaut Mark Kelly.
President Obama issued a statement, calling the shooting "an unspeakable tragedy."
"We do not yet have all the answers," he said. "What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."
House Speaker John Boehner condemned the attack on Giffords.
"I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff," he said in a statement. "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society."
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police said the agency "remains at a high level of readiness, consistent with our operating condition on U.S. Capitol Grounds. We continue to maintain a robust presence."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/08/arizona-congresswoman-reportedly-shot-public-event/#ixzz1AU318avO
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