January 08, 2011 10:02 PM UTC

BREAKING: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot, Critically Injured in Arizona

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #4: Politico Sunday morning:

“When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government-the anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous,” said Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, an elected Democrat, at a news conference Saturday evening. “And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”

Some Republicans responded with indignation-why should the alleged act of an apparently deranged young man with a record of barely coherent, and only vaguely ideological rantings get charged to their account?

Others acknowledged what they called an unavoidable reality-flamboyant or incendiary anti-government rhetoric of the sort used by many conservative politicians, commentators and tea party activists for the time being will carry a stigma…

UPDATE #3: From The Arizona Daily Star:

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot point-blank in the head on Saturday at a northwest-side grocery store, but surgeons say they are “very optimistic” about her recovery.

Meanwhile, Gov. Jan Brewer’s office is confirming federal Judge John Roll was among the dead.

Sheriff’s authorities said there were six dead, including a child, as well as 18 wounded.

Giffords, who is in critical condition, is out of surgery at University Medical Center, said Dr. Peter Rayle, a UMC surgeon. The bullet passed cleanly out her brain, exiting her head. Rayle said she was following commands, which is a good sign…

…The gunman has been identified as 22-year-old Jared Loughner, according to The Associated Press

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UPDATE #2: There are conflicting reports now that Giffords is not dead. “The reports that the congreswoman has died are not accurate she’s in surgery,” C.J. Karamargin told The Arizona Daily Star

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UPDATE: At least six others were killed in the shooting, and several staff members were injured.

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Breaking news from NPR:

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords died after being shot in the head at a public event on Saturday, Pima County, Ariz., sheriff’s office confirms. The 40-year-old Democrat was outside a Tucson grocery store when a gunman ran up and began firing indiscriminately. The suspect was taken into police custody.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head and killed outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event, Arizona Public Media reported Saturday.

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 nine other people, including members of her staff, were hurt.

Giffords was narrowly re-elected in November and was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. Giffords had been threatened in the past, and her district office in Tucson was vandalized last spring after she voted yes on health care reform.