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2011 Tucson shooting

Coordinates: 32°20′9.5″N 110°58′30.5″W / 32.335972°N 110.975139°W / 32.335972; -110.975139
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2011 Tucson shooting
LocationCasas Adobes, Arizona (part of Tucson metro area)
Coordinates32°20′9.5″N 110°58′30.5″W / 32.335972°N 110.975139°W / 32.335972; -110.975139
DateJanuary 8, 2011
Shortly after 10 a.m. local time (UTC-7)
TargetU.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords
Attack type
Shooting
Weapons9mm Glock model 19 pistol
Deaths6[1]
Injured14[2]

A shooting occurred near Tucson, Arizona, on January 8, 2011: twenty people were shot,[2][4] six of them fatally, during United States Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' meeting with constituents held in a Safeway supermarket parking lot in Casas Adobes.[5][6] The dead include the chief judge for the U.S. District Court for Arizona, John McCarthy Roll; a nine-year-old girl; and a congressional aide.[5][1][6] Representative Giffords, a Democrat representing Arizona's 8th congressional district who was said to be the target of the attack,[5] was shot through the head at close range and is in critical condition.[6][7][5] A 22-year-old local man, Jared Lee Loughner, was arrested at the scene,[3] and is being questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[5] The motive for the shooting is currently unclear, as the suspect is not talking and has invoked his rights against self-incrimination.[6] The attack was the first shooting of an elected U.S. politician since the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan in March 1981.[8]

Shooting

The shooting took place on January 8, 2011, shortly after 10 a.m. MST (UTC-7). A United States Representative from Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, was holding a constituent meeting called "Congress on Your Corner"[9] at the Oracle and Ina Roads Safeway supermarket in Casas Adobes.[6] According to an eyewitness, Giffords had set up a table outside the store. About 20 to 30 people were gathered around her when the gunman arrived and shot Giffords in the side of the head.[10][11] A witness said he heard "15 to 20 gunshots". The first 9-1-1 call was made at 10:11 a.m.[1] The gunman ran out of ammunition and stopped to reload, at which point he was tackled to the ground by bystanders.[6]

Six people were killed.[1] Federal judge John McCarthy Roll and Giffords's congressional aide and community outreach director Gabe Zimmerman were among the dead.[1] A nine-year-old girl, Christina Taylor Green,[12] was pronounced dead at the hospital.[6] Other victims with gunshot wounds were transported to the Northwest Medical Center; four people were listed in critical condition.[7]

The weapon used was reported to be a 9mm Glock model 19 pistol with a 30-round magazine.[6] Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik stated that there was a second person of interest being sought.[13]

Target of the attack

U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona 8)

Gabrielle Giffords was reported to be the target of the attack.[5] Some news organizations initially reported that Giffords had been killed, but these statements were quickly revised to reflect that she had survived with a gunshot wound to the head.[14][15][16] Giffords was taken to the University Medical Center in Tucson in critical condition for emergency surgery.[1][17]

According to Dr. Peter M. Rhee of the medical center, the bullet went "through and through" Giffords's skull and brain, entering and exiting on one side of her head.[18] The bullet travelled through the left hemisphere of her brain, without crossing from one hemisphere to the other; the latter is when the most critical injuries result.[6]

Giffords is currently in critical care under anesthesia.[1][19] There are conflicting reports of Giffords' consciousness, with some early reports that Giffords had been briefly awakened from anesthesia, during which time she recognized her husband,[20] while a hospital spokesperson later stated that this was erroneous and that she has not awakened at all.[20] However, she is able to communicate.[21]

Investigation

The Safeway store was closed after the attack. The gunman, described as a white male in his mid-20s with short hair and "dressed in a shabby manner", was arrested after being detained by bystanders.[5][9][22] CNN and NPR reported that two people had tackled the shooter, stopping the spray of bullets.[6][16]

Police identified the suspect as Jared Lee Loughner, born September 1988.[23] As of January 8 and 9 he was being interrogated by the FBI and was said to be refusing to cooperate with authorities and was invoking his Fifth Amendment rights.[6][5][24] Authorities have said the alleged shooter's motivation was unknown, as he was not talking.[6] However, evidence seized from a safe in the suspect's home included notes reading "I planned ahead", "My assasination", and "Giffords", as well as a letter from Giffords's office thanking him for attending a similar event in 2007.[25]

Since the shooting took place in Casas Adobes, an unincorporated area outside of Tucson city limits, the city police do not have jurisdiction. Instead, the Pima County Sheriff's Department started the initial investigation, with assistance from the Tucson Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.[26] FBI Director Robert Mueller was ordered to the location by President Obama, and the FBI is ready to take over the investigation.[27] The Capitol Police are also conducting an investigation.[5]

Primary suspect

Jared Lee Loughner is the primary suspect. At the time of the shooting, he was 22-years-old and lived with his parents in Tucson, about 5 miles (8.0 km) from the site of the shooting.[23][28] Loughner graduated from Mountain View High School in Tucson in 2007.[28] Grant Wiens, who attended high school and college with Loughner, described him as "kind of an interesting character" who kept to himself and was opinionated.[1] Caiti Parker, who knew the suspect in high school four years earlier, described him as a politically radical loner who was obsessed with a 2012 prophecy.[29] He attended Pima Community College until school authorities suspended him after receiving complaints of his inappropriate behavior in class.[28] Loughner chose to drop out in October 2010 rather than having the mental health evaluation and clearance which would have been required for him to re-enroll.[28]

According to court records, Loughner had two previous offenses, one of which was for drug possession.[29] U.S. Army officials said that Loughner had attempted to enlist, but his application had been rejected as "unqualified" for service in 2008. They declined further disclosure due to confidentiality rules.[28][23][30][31]

Although little was initially known about the suspect,[32][33] his deleted Myspace page[34][35] was promptly retrieved.[36] Before the shooting, Loughner had posted anti-government text and videos on the Internet, including a photograph of a U.S. history textbook underneath the image of a handgun.[28] He briefly discussed terrorism saying:

"If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon. I define terrorist …. If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is ad hominem. You call me a terrorist."[28]

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik stated that the suspect had a YouTube channel under an account called "Classitup10",[37][38][39] which states among other things that some of Loughner's favorite books are Mein Kampf, We the Living, Plato's Republic and The Communist Manifesto; one video told viewers, "You don't have to accept the federalist laws".[29][39]

Loughner's YouTube videos included rambling commentary on the gold standard, mind control by the government, and SWAT teams; one video was entitled "My Final Thoughts: Jared Lee Loughner!"[28] On the day before the shooting, Loughner posted on Myspace, "Goodbye, Dear friends . . . Please don't be mad at me."[28]

Person of interest

Police said they were also looking for a white male approximately 40-50 years old with dark hair, possibly associated with the primary suspect. On the morning of January 9, they released a security-camera photo in which he appears.[40] Later that day, Pima County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Ogan said the man was a cab driver who drove the gunman to the grocery store where the shooting occurred. Ogan said the man went into the store because the gunman apparently hadn't paid his fare, and that the Sheriff's department had determined that the cab driver was not otherwise involved in the shooting.[25][41]

Victims

Dead

Six people were killed in the attack. All but Christina Taylor Green died at the scene of the shooting.[42]

  • Christina Taylor Green, 9, of Tucson. Green was accompanied to the meeting by a neighbor.[12] Green died at University Medical Center.[6][43] Born on September 11, 2001, she had appeared in the book Faces of Hope: Babies Born on 9/11.[44] She was the daughter of Los Angeles Dodgers scout John Green and the granddaughter of former Major League Baseball player and manager Dallas Green.[45] She was in third grade and had recently been elected to the student council at Mesa Verde Elementary School.[12][43][5]
  • Dorothy Morris, 76, who in early articles was named as "Dorothy Murray".[12][5]
  • John McCarthy Roll, 63. Roll was the chief judge for the District of Arizona. Roll was a native of Pennsylvania and a 1969 graduate of the University of Arizona. He began his legal career as a bailiff in Pima County Superior Court and in 1980 joined the office of the U.S. Attorney. He was appointed to the Arizona Appeals Court in 1987 until he was named to the federal bench by then-President George H. W. Bush in 1991. He had served as presiding judge since 2006.[12]
  • Phyllis Scheck, 79.[12][5]
  • Dorwin Stoddard, 76. Shot in the head while trying to protect his wife.[12][5]
  • Gabriel "Gabe" Zimmerman, 30. Zimmerman worked on Giffords's staff as a community outreach director.[12][5] He was engaged to be married.[12]

Wounded

The 14 people wounded[2] include Giffords and two of her staff members, Pam Simon and deputy director Ron Barber.[12]

Reactions

President Barack Obama called the shooting an "unspeakable tragedy," adding that "such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society."[46] Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said, "My thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords and her family, the Congresswoman's staff and their families, as well as the other victims of this senseless and cruel violence."[47] House Speaker John Boehner said, "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... This is a sad day for our country."[48] Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement noting, "we in the judiciary have suffered the terrible loss of one of our own", with the death of Chief Judge John Roll.[49]

Other politicians from across the United States outside Arizona and even foreign countries spoke publicly regarding the shooting, including Arizona's United States Senators Jon Kyl[50] and John McCain,[51] House Majority Leader Eric Cantor,[52] House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi,[52] Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ),[47] Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ),[47] Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ),[47] Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ),[47] Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Attorney General Tom Horne,[53] Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon,[53], Janet Napolitano,[53] former Tucson Vice-Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate Rodney Glassman,[54] Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX),[55] former Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX),[55] Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX),[55][52] Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen[47] and Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett.[47] Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin offered "sincere condolences".[56] Fidel Castro also condemned the shooting as "atrocious", "absurd" and "unjustifiable".[57][58][59]

The New York Times reported that the shooting raised concerns that American politics had become too heated. Giffords had previously criticized a website created by the Sarah Palin Action Committee that used the image of a cross hair on a U.S. map[60] to note targeted congressional seats for the 2010 midterm elections, of which Giffords' was one. The picture was removed from the site by Palin's team following the shootings.[61][62] Toby Harnden of The Daily Telegraph claims that the left was quick to attack Palin, the Tea Party and Republicans despite what he describes as the suspect's enigmatic political views.[63] In 2010, after her office had been vandalized, Giffords had said; "We're in Sarah Palin's 'targeted' list, but the thing is that the way she has it depicted, we're in the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they've got to realize that there are consequences to that action."[11] Geraldo Rivera of Fox News Channel remarked, "However unfair the link is, I think that this event affects Sarah Palin's at least short term political future."[64] Howard Kurtz, Robert Stacy McCain and Byron York criticized efforts to connect the murders to Palin and the Tea Party.[65][66][67]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Arizona Congresswoman Giffords shot in Tucson". The Arizona Republic. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  2. ^ a b c "Doctors: Wounded Arizona congresswoman able to communicate". CNN. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  3. ^ a b "Jared Lee Loughner Identified As Gabrielle Giffords Shooter". huffingtonpost.com. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  4. ^ Sheriff: 20 people were shot in Tucson
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Marc Lacey (2011-01-09). "In Attack's Wake, Political Repercussions". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m CNN Wire Staff (2011-01-11). "Police 'actively pursuing' second person in Tucson shooting". CNN. Retrieved 2011-01-08. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ a b "US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in Arizona". BBC News. 2011-01-08.
  8. ^ shooting sends political shockwaves across America. Globe and Mail. January 8, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Safeway Store Closed After Mass Shooting". kpho.com. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.[verification needed]
  10. ^ "Arizona Congresswoman Giffords shot; doctors 'optimistic' about recovery chances". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  11. ^ a b Ben Quinn (9 January 2011). "US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot as six die in Arizona massacre". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-01-09. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gonzalez, Daniel (2011-01-08). "Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords: The victims". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  13. ^ Myers, Amanda Lee (2011-01-08). "Suspicious package found outside Gifford's office was non-explosive". Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  14. ^ Moos, Julie (2011-01-08). "After conflicting reports in Arizona shooting, Sklar, Silverman track media mistakes while NPR's Folkenflik explains on Twitter". Poynter Institute. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  15. ^ Hagey, Keach (2011-01-08). "NPR: We regret the erroneous news". Politico. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  16. ^ a b Memmott, Mark (2011-01-08). "Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., Many Others, Shot; At Least Six Dead". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  17. ^ Shailagh Murray (2011-01-09). "Hospital: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords shot in Tucson rampage; federal judge killed". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-01-09. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was target of shooter; accomplice suspected", Politico, 1/8/11 1:36 PM EST Updated: 1/8/11 9:07 PM EST -- see video link on page. See also "Giffords shot in head; federal judge, 5 others killed at Tucson rally", Dylan Smith, Tucson Sentinel, January 8, 2011, 12:13 pm. Gabrielle Giffords was "shot through and through on one side of the head," said Rhee. The bullet passed through Giffords' brain," he said.
  19. ^ Rhee, Peter (2011-01-08). "Hospital Update on Tucson Shooting". Tucson, Arizona: YouTube. Associated Press. 01m0s. "I'm very optimistic about [Giffords'] recovery. [...] The person that did die here at the hospital was a young child. [...] Gabrielle Gifford's condition was very optimistic and she was following commands. This press conference was also replayed on CNN in the United States, including at 23:00 UTC/6:02 p.m. EST/4:02 p.m. MST.
  20. ^ a b Sherman, Jake (2011-01-08). "Giffords recognized husband, returned to unconciousness". Politico. Retrieved 2011-01-09. Cite error: The named reference "Politico-20110109-recognized" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  21. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/09/arizona.shooting/index.html?hpt=T1
  22. ^ "Details of suspect in Ariz rampage slowly emerge". Google News. Associated Press. 2011-01-08. Archived from the original on 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  23. ^ a b c "Profile of Jared Loughner: 'I can't trust the current government'". MSNBC. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  24. ^ "Loughner Invoking Fifth Amendment After Arizona Slaughter". NewsTime. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09. {{cite news}}: Text "location:New Zealand" ignored (help)
  25. ^ a b "Congresswoman still critical after gunman's attack; Authorities rule out any involvement by man described earlier as a 'person of interest'". msnbc.com. January 9, 2011.
  26. ^ CNN live broadcast
  27. ^ Spotts, Pete. "Arizona shooting: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hit at meeting with constituents". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i Eric Lipton; Charlie Savage; Scott Shane (2011-01-08). "Arizona Suspect's Recent Acts Offer Hints of Alienation". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  29. ^ a b c Swaine, Jon (2011-01-08). "Gabrielle Giffords shooting: strange internet trail of 'loner' Jared Lee Loughner, the alleged Tucson gunman". The Telegraph.
  30. ^ U.S. Army Statement on status of suspect, U.S. Army Information Service, 19:46 EST January 8, 2011 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Steller, Tim (2011-01-08). "Man linked to Giffords shooting called 'very disturbed'". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  32. ^ EPA/Gary M. Williams. "Gunman in shooting of Ariz. congresswoman identified as Jared Lee Loughner, 22". NJ.com. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  33. ^ "Jared Lee Loughner Identified As Gabrielle Giffords Shooter (INFO, VIDEOS)". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  34. ^ Albanesius, Chloe (2011-01-08). "MySpace Removes Profile of Alleged Arizona Shooter". PC Magazine. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  35. ^ Shafer, Jack; Tapper, Jake; Balko, Radley; Marshall, Josh; Smith, Ben; Kirn, Walter; Lithwick, Dahlia; Maddow, Rachel; Davis, Susan; Homans, Charles; Silverman, Craig (2011-01-08), The Giffords Shooting, Slate, retrieved 2011-01-08
  36. ^ Weisenthal, Joe (2011-01-08). "Gunman Identified As Jared Lee Loughner". Business Insider. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  37. ^ Loughner, Jared Lee (2010-12-15). "Classitup10's Channel". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  38. ^ "Arizona massacre suspect: 'Kind of a troubled past'". CNN. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  39. ^ a b Grinberg, Emanuella (2011-01-08). "Witness: Arizona gunman 'was ready for war'". CNN. Retrieved 2011-01-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  40. ^ "AZ shooting targets US congresswoman, kills 6". Associated Press. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  41. ^ "Authorities clear man called 'person of interest' in Giffords shooting case". Arizona Daily Star. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  42. ^ Jan. 8, 2011 10:58 PM The Arizona Republic (2010-12-29). "Gabrielle Giffords shooting: As it unfolded". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ a b "Born, died between 2 tragedies". Arizona Daily Star. 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  44. ^ "'Baby of hope' shot dead by gunman". smh.com.au. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  45. ^ Brown, David. "Dallas Green's granddaughter dies in Arizona shooting - Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports". Big League Stew. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  46. ^ "The President's Statement on the Attack in Arizona". Whitehouse.gov. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g "Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot: reaction". Azcentral.com. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  48. ^ "Boehner Condemns Attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords | Speaker of the House John Boehner | speaker.gov". Speaker.house.gov. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  49. ^ Statement from Chief Justice Roberts on Death of Judge Roll, FOX Insider, January 8, 2011.
  50. ^ "In quotes: Arizona, federal leaders speak out on shootings". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  51. ^ "McCain: Shooting a 'terrible, terrible' tragedy". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  52. ^ a b c "In quotes: Reaction to Arizona shooting". BBC News Online. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  53. ^ a b c Jan. 8, 2011 02:59 PM (2010-12-29). "Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot: reaction". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  54. ^ [1][dead link]
  55. ^ a b c "KABB Fox San Antonio :: Top Stories - Local Reaction to Tucson Shooting- Christina Coleman". Foxsanantonio.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  56. ^ "Palin offers condolences to Giffords family". KSPR. Perkin Media, LLC. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  57. ^ AP (2010-02-01). "Fidel Castro Condemns Attack on U .S. Congresswoman". FoxNews.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  58. ^ "Metro - Fidel Castro condemns attack on Giffords". Metronews.ca. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  59. ^ "Cuba's Fidel Castro condemns attack on US congresswoman Giffords as "atrocious"". The Telegram. St. John's, Newfoundland: Transcontinental. The Canadian Press. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09. Fidel Castro has denounced as "atrocious" a shooting attack on a U.S. lawmaker that left six people dead and the legislator in critical condition.
  60. ^ "Screenshot of Sarah Palin's Facebook Page Prior to Removal of the "Cross Hairs" Map". Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  61. ^ "Bloodshed Puts New Focus on Vitriol in Politics". The New York Times. 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2011-01-08.
  62. ^ "Adviser: Linking Palin to shootings 'appalling' – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs". Politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  63. ^ "The unseemly rush to blame Sarah Palin, the Tea Party and Republicans for murder in Arizona". The Daily Telegraph. 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
  64. ^ Alvarez, Alex (2011-01-09). "Fox's Geraldo On Arizona Shooting: "This Event Affects Sarah Palin's Political Future"". Mediaite. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  65. ^ Stacy, Robert. "The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Arizona Shootings: 'It Was a Colossal Failure of Journalism'". Spectator.org. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  66. ^ By: buku_banzai (2009-11-05). "Journalists urged caution after Ft. Hood, now race to blame Palin after Arizona shootings". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  67. ^ "Gabrielle Giffords Shooting: Don't Blame Sarah Palin". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2011-01-09.

US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot at Arizona supermarket at Wikinews

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