Gabrielle Giffords (D) Possibly Assassinated - AZ Congresswoman Shot in Head at Pointblank Range

Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, my Congresswoman, has been shot in the head at nearly pointblack range during a town-hall talk (Congress on the Corner) at a local Safeway (Ina and Oracle, for Tucsonans). She has been reported dead - but there is a conflicting report that she is in surgery still.

I am literally sick to my stomach - when they announced her dead on NPR it felt personal - she was MY congresswoman and some whack-job killed her and several other people just because she is a Democrat.

AZ is so fucking rightwing and so fucking in love with their damn guns . . . . The shooter had to have an automatic or semiautomatic weapon to get that many shots off so quickly. Those guns should be banned - should have been banned when Reagan was shot.

Gabrielle Giffords Dead: Dies Of Gunshot Wound To The Head

First Posted: 01- 8-11 02:13 PM | Updated: 01- 8-11 02:19 PM

Gabrielle Giffords, a Democratic congresswoman from Arizona, was shot and killed today at a public event outside a grocery store.

A spokesman for the Pima County sheriff says that at least 12 people were shot, with at least 6 fatalities. The Tucson Citizen reports that Rep. Giffords was "shot point blank in the head."

Rep. Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, was first elected to the House in 2006. She represents the state's 8th Congressional District.

Scroll down for live updates.

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2:55 PM ET Staffer Dead

AP: At least one Giffords staffer has been killed.

2:48 PM ET Boehner 'Horrified'

Speaker of the House John Boehner issued the following statement about today's shooting:

“I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff. 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. Our prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured, and their families. This is a sad day for our country."

2:44 PM ET Giffords' Tweet

Giffords' last tweet before the shooting: "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now. Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later."

2:40 PM ET Death Reports Retracted

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

2:37 PM ET Giffords Alive And In Surgery

A hospital spokeswoman tells MSNBC that Giffords is alive, still in surgery.

2:31 PM ET Still Alive?

MSNBC says a surgeon on the scene claims that Giffords is still alive, in critical condition.

2:30 PM ET Chilling

While there is no hard evidence at this point to suggest that the shooting was politically motivated, Matt Yglesias points out that an anti-Giffords event was held in June with the billing: "Get on Target for Victory in November. Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office. Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly."

Rep. Giffords was also on Sarah Palin's "target list."

As noted earlier, a gun was dropped at a Giffords event in 2009, and her office was vandalized in March.

2:19 PM ET Six Others Dead

NPR: At least six others have been killed.

2:19 PM ET Office Vandalized After Health Care Vote

The New York Times writes that Giffords' office was vandalized in March "a few hours after the House vote overhauling the nation’s health care system."

2:16 PM ET 'At Least 4 Dead'

University Medical Center says that at least four are dead.

2:15 PM ET Shooter Yelled Names At Targets?

A source tells Ed Espinoza that the shooter "called out names of people as aiming at targets."

2:14 PM ET The Shooter: 'Fringe Character'

A source talks to Gawker about the shooter:

The man 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. He didn't look like a businessman, but more of a "fringe character," our source said.

2:13 PM ET Confirmed Killed

Reuters, others confirm that Giffords has died.

2:08 PM ET Giffords Reportedly Dead

Rep. Giffords is dead, according to NPR.

2:06 PM ET No Known Threats

According to CNN's Mike Brooks, sources with the U.S. Capitol Police say there were no known threats against Rep. Giffords.

In 2009, a gun was dropped at a Giffords event.

2:02 PM ET Staffers Shot

According to Ed Espinoza, DNC Western States Political Director, Giffords' district director and local press secretary were also shot.

1:59 PM ET Young Shooter

NPR: "Witnesses described him as in his late teens or early 20s."

1:55 PM ET More On Giffords

Rep. Giffords, who is 40, is married to an astronaut. Jonathan Allen of Politico says that Giffords is involved with immigration and armed services issues.

1:51 PM ET At Least 12 Reportedly Shot

A Pima County sheriff's spokesman says at least 12 people were shot at the event. One person is in custody.

1:50 PM ET Medical Response

Pekau also tells CNN that three emergency evacuation helicopters are at the scene of the shooting.

1:46 PM ET 'Two Bodies'

Jason Pekau, a Sprint employee who works near the Safeway where the shooting occurred, tells CNN: "I see two bodies laying on the sidewalk in front of the Safeway."

1:45 PM ET 15-20 Gunshots?

A witness tells CNN that he heard 15-20 gunshots.

1:42 PM ET More On Giffords

Rep. Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, was first elected to the House in 2006. She represents the state's 8th Congressional District.

1:40 PM ET 'Firing Indiscriminately'

According to MSNBC, the shooter ran into a "crowded area" and began "firing indiscriminately."

1:37 PM ET Shooter Reportedly In Custody

More from NPR:

Giffords was talking to a couple when the suspect ran up firing indiscriminately and then ran off, Michaels said. According to other witnesses, he was tackled by a bystander and taken into custody.

1:28 PM ET Congresswoman Reportedly Shot In Head

According to Tucson Citizen, Rep. Giffords was shot "point blank in the head."

1:25 PM ET Safeway Shooting

According to KOLD, a Tucson CBS affiliate, the shooting occurred just after 10:00 AM local time at a Safeway grocery store. KOLD has not confirmed that Rep. Giffords was shot.

1:19 PM ET At Least Five Others Hurt

NPR reports that Giffords was shot at a public event at a grocery store in Tucson, Ariz. Peter Michaels of of Arizona Public Media tells NPR that at least five others, including staff, were hurt as well.

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