This is Really Bad News

[Michael Larson]

Arizona Congresswoman Shot Outside Grocery Store

A gunman shot U.S. congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords during an event outside a Safeway in Tuscon Arizona this morning. At least 12 others were wounded. Following is an eyewitness report from a man who helped hold the suspect down.

Update: Giffords has died, according to Reuters.

We spoke to an eyewitness, Steven Rayle, who was on the scene at the time of the shooting and helped to hold the suspect down while waiting for police. Here's what he said:

The event was very informal: Gifford had set up a table outside the Safeway and about 20-30 people were gathered to talk to her. The gunman, who may have come from inside the Safeway, walked up and shot Gifford in the head first. According to Rayle, who is a former ER doctor, Gifford was able to move her hands after being shot.

After shooting Gifford, the gunman opened fire indiscriminately for a few seconds, firing 20-30 rounds and hitting a number of people, including a kid no older than 10 years old. Rayle hid behind a concrete pole and pretended to be dead. When the gunman apparently ran out of ammunition he attempted to flee, but a member of Gifford's staff tackled him. Rayle helped hold the gunman down while waiting for the sheriff to arrive, about 15-to-20 minutes later. The EMS came about 30 minutes later. Rayle said he was "stunned" by how long it took medical help to arrive.

The gunman was young, mid-to-late 20s, white, clean-shaven with short hair and wearing dark clothing and said nothing during the shooting or while being held down, although he struggled at first. He was "not particularly well-dressed"; he didn't look like a businessman, but more of a "fringe character," Rayle said. The sheriff's department arrived, arrested the gunman and cordoned off the parking lot.

CNN is reporting that at least 12 were wounded.

UPDATE: FLASH: Congresswoman Giffords still alive, in surgery, nine other patients brought in from shooting: hospital spokeswoman

2:40 PM ET Death Reports Retracted

CNN, Reuters & NPR no longer report that Giffords is dead.

[Joseph A. Ferry]

There's an awful lot of, um, shoot-from-the-hip reporting going on.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by jferry1

There's an awful lot of, um, shoot-from-the-hip reporting going on.

I'm listening to a live local station for updates.

http://www.790knst.com/mediaplayer/?...channel_title=

[Gerry Pallotta]

"2:40 PM ET Death Reports Retracted"

There is a picture of a couple of bodies that are covered in white sheets.

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoft...y.shooting.cnn

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by ccurrins

Giffords's Tuscon constituency office was vandalised last March after she voted in favour of Barack Obama's controversial health bill, which has been bitterly opposed by the American right. Giffords had been named as a political campaign target for conservatives in November's elections by former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin for her strong support of Obama's reforms. Palin had published a "target map" on her website using images of gun sights to identify 20 House Democrats, including Giffords, for backing the new health care law. At an event in 2009 which was similar to the one Giffords was holding today, a protester was removed by police when his pistol fell to the supermarket floor.

It is stupid and irresponsible of you to insinuate this has anything to do with that.

What a moron.

[Michael Larson]

For the adults in the room.

http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?singlepost=2347868

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by mlarson

It is stupid and irresponsible of you to insinuate this has anything to do with that.

What a moron.

Not insinuating anything, I did not make it up. You don't know what motivated the idiot.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by ccurrins

Not insinuating anything, I did not make it up. You don't know what motivated the idiot.

Your post is completely out of line.

Grow up.

[Joseph A. Ferry]

Memo to ignorant lefties who are trying to exploit this tragedy for sick political gain: Were you offended by any of this: http://t.co/y3hEVaF ?

[Joseph A. Ferry]

CNN is reporting that there is a "white male" in custody. I expect soon - given the slipshod reporting that has characterized this tragedy - that that will shortly be "updated" to reflect that it was actually a "black female".

[Michael Larson]

Hospital presser confirms death of a 9 year old victim.

[Michael Larson]

Federal Judge confirmed dead in attack.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

It is terrible news, Now is it not the time to Hope the best for those that survived and pay respect to those who died . Even a child shot and killed. just simply a waste of life.
How about people ? Speculations and acquisitions not needed .

[Michael Larson]

Obama just stated that 5 are dead.

[Michael Bazzo, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Ku Klux McKKKenna will undoubtedly find a way to blame this on a black President.

Your a ****ing moron for trying to start something for no reason