Democratic Representative Gabrielle Gifford of Arizona Is Shot During a Constituent Meeting

Arizona Representative Gabrielle Gifford shot along with eleven others during a small constituent meeting at a grocery store.

CNN reports she is currently in surgery. The condition of the eleven others is not known, though it is reported that a Congressional staffer has been killed.

Representative Gifford was among three Democratic Congresspeople whose offices were vandalized during health care reform and won her race against a member of the Tea Party earlier this year.

In the rocky course of civilization, repetition is key; by now, I think we kind of know what happens when assassination becomes a tool of politics. Saying it does not end well understates the case to the point of ridicule; it doesn't end.

My thoughts are with her family and friends.

Update, 2:35 PM

According to CNN, among the victims was a child. The suspect is in custody.

Update, 2:51 PM

CNN Blog

The total number of victims has been raised to eighteen; of that number, it is reported that six have died. The world is infinitely less in their passing. I hope they weren't afraid.

Representative Gifford remains in surgery. According to reports attributed ot Fox News, Gifford is responding to commands after surgery, but I can't get a direct attribution. Piers Morgan's Twitter contains a quote.

Update, 3:05 PM CST

Okay, missed this earlier; a Federal Judge is among the victims, status unknown.

Update, 3:14 PM CST

CNN Blog reports seven minutes ago to confirm one of the deceased victims was a child.

Representative Gifford is under anesthesia and out of surgery after taking a single gunshot wound to the head. She is in critical condition, but Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director of the University Medical Center at Tucson, reports he is optimistic for her recovery.

CNN needs to load the press conference already. Thanks to mardia for commenting on what was happening.

Update, 3:22 PM CST

KOLD has identified the man taken into custody.

KOVA is reporting that U.S. District Judge John Roll was among the murdered victims.

Update, 3:47 PM CST

From President Obama, live press conference occuring now:

US District Judge John Roll is confirmed dead.

A child is confirmed dead; the child was nine.

President Obama confirms five dead.

The suspect has been taken into custody.

Representative Gabrielle Gifford has come out of surgery.

President Obama has offered the assistance of the federal government and an investigation is underway.

Ah, the Governor of Arizona is about to speak.

Update, 3:59 PM CST

Governor Brewer is visibly shaken and talks about Representative Gabrielle Gifford's record and her accomplishments. All was prefaced they have no new information at this time.

Comments

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Oh God, it's just getting worse by the minute--CNN has a report from, apparently, the police, saying that six people have been killed.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

A couple of sites have the victim count at twenty with multiple deaths. I'm trying to work out a sane response that doesn't start with like, screaming or something.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

CNN has a press conference up right now--they're confirming that a nine year-old child was one of the victims, and died at the hospital.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

ARGH TRYING TO LOAD.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

I hope it loads quickly--right now CNN's waiting for Obama to come out and make remarks to the press. They've got a medical expert on right now saying that the fact that Congresswoman Giffords is responding to commands is a very good sign.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Is there confirmation on the judge? KOVA is the only one stating he's among the deceased?

*stares at screen bitterly*

[mardia.livejournal.com]

MSNBC was reporting that sources had told them, or rather, told NBC News, that the judge was among the deceased, but that was only on the website. But MSNBC's website is saying that reportedly, a staffer and the judge are among the dead.

CNN, however, is reporting that the authorities have retrieved a handgun from the crime scene.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Oh! I'm loading!

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Okay, Obama's speaking right now--the judge is in fact, dead, along with the nine year-old child. Oh God.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Governor of Arizona is about to speak. Or so they say.

*waits*

[mardia.livejournal.com]

She's speaking right now--and she looks genuinely shaken by what's happened.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I just was saying that. It's kind of surprising, and she's keeping it together well while not downplaying what happened.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Oh jeez, now they're saying the judge got death threats back in February 2009 for decreeing that a suit brought by illegal immigrants against a rancher should be brought forward.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I was googling up his record. A Bush appointee who ruled in favor of the undocumented workers and had to be under protective custody at one time.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

Oh, and MSNBC is bringing up the "targeted" map from Sarah Palin now. About time is all I can say.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Oh hell yes! Give me a reason to get away from Huffington.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

It kind of seems like MSNBC has the info up most quickly--they're reporting the shooter's name, they've brought up the Myspace and YouTube sites (they're trying to vet the Youtube vids, so they haven't aired them yet), etc. So that's something at least.