Giffords Shooting Testament Arizona Center for Racism, Prejudice and Bigotry

 

TUCSON & SANTA FE, NM (By William M. Welch, Kevin Johnson and Marisol Bello, USA TODAY) — Mourners held a candlelight vigil here Saturday evening as U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords remained in critical condition after a shooting rampage that left six dead and 12 others wounded.

Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, was shot in the head at point blank range by a man who opened fire during a meet-and-greet with constituents at a busy Tucson supermarket. Among the dead are an aide to the congresswoman, a 9-year-old girl and U.S. District Judge John Roll.

Nineteen people were shot in total, Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik said. Five died at the scene, he said. Authorities recovered a single weapon, a pistol with what Deputy Sheriff Richard Kastigar described as an "extended magazine." The gunman, identified as Jared Loughner, 22, was apprehended at the scene, but it is not yet known why he opened fire.

Dupnik said he had a criminal background. "He has kind of a troubled past, I can tell you that," he said. "And we're not convinced that he acted alone. There is some reason to believe that he came to this location with another individual."

Doctors were optimistic about Giffords surviving as she was responding to commands from doctors. "With guarded optimism, I hope she will survive, but this is a very devastating wound," said Dr. Richard Carmona, the former surgeon general who lives in Tucson.

Dupnik said the six killed included 9-year-old Christina Greene; 30-year-old Gifford aide Gabe Zimmerman, and Roll, 63, who had just stopped by to see his friend Giffords after attending Mass. Also killed were 76-year-old Dorthy Murray, 76-year-old Dorwin Stoddard, and 79-year-old Phyllis Scheck, investigators said.

A lighted sign marking Giffords' office became an altar of sorts Saturday night, with people leaving candles, signs, stuffed animals, a flag and other symbols and messages. About 50 people had gathered on the street corner in front of her office, some holding candles and hand-lettered signs that said "Peace," "Just Pray," and "We condemn violence."

Dawn Norton, a mental health worker from Tucson, said she was there to show support. "We just love her and hope she pulls through," Norton said.

Her friend, Chris McGuire, called the shooting "an atrocity" and said she felt the violence was politically motivated.

"I'm shocked that this is what our country has come to," she said. "It is vicious. It is unconscionable."

Dupnik and others echoed her comments, blaming the shooting on vitriolic political rhetoric that has consumed the country.

"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," the sheriff said. "And unfortunately, Arizona I think has become the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

Giffords expressed similar concern before the shooting. Last March, shortly after the House passed health care, Giffords' congressional office in Tucson was vandalized. Afterward, she referred to the animosity against her by conservatives, including former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's decision to list Giffords' seat as one of the top "targets" in the November midterm elections.

"For example, we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is, that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they have to realize that there are consequences to that action," Giffords said in an interview with MSNBC.

In the hours after the shooting, Palin issued a statement in which she expressed her "sincere condolences" to the family of Giffords and the other victims.

President Obama called the shooting "a tragedy for Arizona and a tragedy for our entire country."

"We are going to get to the bottom of this and we will get through this," he said during an afternoon press conference at the White House. He directed FBI Director Robert Mueller to fly to Tucson to coordinate the investigation.

"The FBI is working jointly with local law enforcement to investigate today's events, and I have directed Department prosecutors and law enforcement officials to use every resource necessary to investigate this tragedy," Attorney General Eric Holder said.

Mark Kimball, a communications staffer for Giffords, described the scene as "just complete chaos, people screaming, crying." The gunman fired at Giffords and her district director and started shooting indiscriminately at staffers and others standing in line to talk to the congresswoman, Kimball said.

"He was not more than three or four feet from the congresswoman and the district director," he said.

Federal law enforcement officials were poring over captured versions of a MySpace page that belonged to Loughner and over YouTube video published to the Internet weeks ago under an account "Classitup10" and linked to him.

The MySpace page, which was removed within minutes of the gunman being identified by U.S. officials, included a mysterious "Goodbye friends" message published hours before the shooting and exhorted his friends to "Please don't be mad at me."

In one of several YouTube videos, which featured text against a dark background, an author who identified himself as Loughner described inventing a new U.S. currency and complained about the illiteracy rate among people living in Giffords' congressional district.

"I know who's listening: Government Officials, and the People," Loughner wrote. "Nearly all the people, who don't know this accurate information of a new currency, aren't aware of mind control and brainwash methods. If I have my civil rights, then this message wouldn't have happen (sic)."

Kastigar said he is "unaware" that the shooter said anything before opening fire. The first call to 911 recorded at 10:11 a.m. Tucson time, followed by a wave of calls in the seconds and minutes following.

"This is a dynamic event that is still transpiring," Kastigar said. He said authorities were investigating whether the shooter acted alone or was assisted by others.

Kastigar also said it was unclear how the shooter got to the shopping center event. He says no car had been recovered Saturday afternoon and investigators were questioning bus drivers and searching video from security cameras stationed in the area to learn more about the suspect's movements prior to the shooting.

Alex Villec, a 19-year-old volunteer, was organizing the line of constituents when the shooter approached and asked to speak to Giffords, Villec told the Arizona Daily Star. Villec said he told him to stand at the back of a line to wait for about 20 minutes.

A few minutes later, the shooter left the line and walked toward Giffords. "He was intent when he came back — a pretty stone-cold glance and glare," Villec told the newspaper. "I didn't see his gun, but it was clear who he was going for ... His goal was the congresswoman."

Villec said the shooter walked past him and raised his hand. Villec said he heard gunshots before ducking behind a pillar and running across the supermarket parking lot to a bank for safety. "It was bedlam," he said. "People were getting down on the ground. They were screaming."

Another witness, Tucson doctor Steven Rayle told The Washington Post that he saw a young man wearing sneakers and what appeared to be navy blue sweats walk up to Giffords with a handgun raised. The man said nothing before shooting the congresswoman once in the face.

He said people near Giffords tried to run but they were trapped by the table and a concrete post. "People that were there were just sitting ducks," Rayle said. "I don't think he was even aiming. He was just firing at whatever."

Giffords, 40, is out of surgery, said Dr. Peter Rhee, director of trauma at the University Medical Center at Tucson. Rhee said he is "very optimistic" about Giffords' recovery but will monitor her closely in the next 24 hours before determining her prognosis.

Giffords, he said, was shot once in the head "through and through." Rhee said Giffords was "following commands" before the surgery. "I'm as optimistic as you can get in this situation," he said.

Condolences and words of support for the shooting victims poured in through the day.

"We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society," Obama said. "I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Rep. Giffords, the victims of this tragedy and their families in our prayers."

Fighting back frigid temperatures, a steady stream of visitors placed candles at a makeshift vigil outside of University Medical Center.

Among those were Cynthia and Gregory Gills, who became close with Giffords when she looked into problems with Gregory's veterans' benefits years ago. The Gills said Giffords and her staff were "relentless" in staying on top of the government — even calling to check up on the weekends.

"It's cold, my ears are hurting and my husband shouldn't be up," said Cynthia Gills, 59. "But we had to come."

Roll was hailed as a wise and fair jurist by his colleagues.

"We in the judiciary have suffered the terrible loss of one of our own," said Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. " Chief Judge John Roll was a wise jurist who selflessly served Arizona and the nation with great distinction, as attorney and judge, for more than 35 years. I express my deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his children, as well as the other victims and their families. Chief Judge Roll's death is a somber reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it."

Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch called Roll "a kind man, … and a friend to many within the legal community."

Dupnik said Roll was a very close friend, "who this morning got up like he does every Saturday morning, went to mass, and because he knows Gabrielle very well, came around the corner to say hi. Unfortunately he was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said, "I am just heartbroken. Gabby is more than just a colleague. She's a friend."

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, 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."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Giffords "a brilliant and courageous member of Congress."

Giffords was first elected in 2006, part of the freshman class that had ushered in a Democratic majority that made Pelosi the House speaker.

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., who serves with Giffords on the House Armed Services Committee, said Giffords is "a precious, decent human being and this tragedy is beyond my ability to articulate." An angry Franks told MSNBC "someone has stepped out of bounds of humanity."

Giffords represents the 8th District, which spreads to the U.S.-Mexico border. She won her third term in November by slightly more than 1 percentage point over Republican Jesse Kelly, who had Tea Party support.

On Saturday evening, Tucson Police Sgt. Matt Ronstadt said police found and destroyed a suspicious package while searching the office complex where Gifford had her office. He said it was not known if that package was tied to the shooting and that it was "non explosive in nature."

Giffords had made immigration and border control among her signature issues during her three terms in Congress. A centrist Democrat, she approached the immigration debate in a nuanced fashion, mixing requests for more Border Patrol agents with calls to increase the number of work visas granted to foreigners.

Giffords is married to astronaut Mark Kelly, who is of no relation to her former opponent.