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Witness: Arizona gunman 'was ready for war'
More coverage on the shootings from affiliates KOLD, KVOA, KMSB, KPHO and KGUN.
[Updated at 10:30 p.m. ET] A man who helped subdue the gunman in Saturday's Arizona shooting spree said the man was trying to reload when he was tackled to the ground.
"He was ready for war. He was not playing around," Joe Zamudio told CNN. "He was going to keep shooting. It was not over. He had just ran out of bullets."
The gun, which another bystander had wrestled from the gunman, was empty and cocked open, and the shooter had another magazine at the ready, Zamudio said.
Zamudio pinned him to the ground until police showed up. The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, is in custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, and authorities are obtaining search warrants for a residence and his vehicle. Authorities also are seeking a person of interest but his suspected connection to the incident is unclear.
Loughner is accused of shooting 18 people, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a third-term Democrat who had organized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet and greet. Authorities believe the gunman had specifically targeted Giffords. She is in critical condition after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head, but doctors said they are optimistic over her prospects for recovery.
Eleven others were wounded in the shooting and six are dead, among them U.S. District Court Judge John Rolls, a friend of Giffords' who had stopped by the event to say hello after attending Mass, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said.
Also killed was Giffords staffer Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach who had coordinated the event to introduce Giffords to her constituents.
A 9-year-old girl also was killed.
The shooting sent shock waves through Washington, where Giffords was regarded as gracious and kind, a moderate Democrat known for her dedication to her constituents and willingness to work across party lines.
In light of the shootings, all legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced in a statement.
Americans also struggled to come to terms with the event. Many of them showed up to a vigil at the Arizona State Capitol to pray together and share their thoughts.
In the Twitterverse, theories abounded as to the gunman's motivation. Meanwhile, while speaking to the press , the sheriff lamented "the vitriolic rhetoric" in American political discourse, suggesting it played a role in the shooting.
"This has not become the nice United States of America that most of us grew up in and I think its time we do the soul-searching," he said.
"The anger, the hatred the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous and unfortunately, Arizona has become the capital. We have become the mecca of prejudice and bigotry."
[Updated at 10:00 p.m. ET] A House vote scheduled for Monday on whether to repeal health care legislation has been postponed after Saturday's shooting.
All legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed in a decision by leaders of both political parties in the House so "we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today's tragedy," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a statement.
[Updated at 9:13 p.m. ET] Some who knew Giffords and others who just wanted an outlet for emotions in the wake of the shooting rampage gathered on Capitol Hill Saturday night to honor the victims.
More than 50 marchers braved subfreezing temperatures and gusty winds to march to the Capitol and up the west steps to hold the vigil.
[Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET] A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation says the Glock model 19 used in the shootings was purchased legally. The official did not have details at this time as to when and where the gun was purchased.
The gun was loaded with a 30-round magazine. The official said it is likely the extended magazine used in the shooting was purchased separately and at a different time. The official said such a magazine does not automatically come with a weapons purchase and that it would be extremely rare for them to be sold together in one purchase.
The official said the suspect had purchased another gun a few years ago but this person did not know the details about what happened to that weapon and if the alleged shooter still owned it.
[Updated at 8:23 p.m. ET] Officials are not convinced that the suspected gunman acted alone, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik told reporters.
Law enforcement is actively searching for a "person of interest" who is a white male in his 50s believed to have assisted the suspect in a shooting, Dupnik said.
A suspect who Dupnik would not name is in the custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, he said. The suspect has had previous contact with law enforcement "regarding threats" to kill, Dupnik said, and described him as having a "troubled past."
CNN has confirmed that the suspect's name is Jared Lee Loughner, 22, whose apparent online footprint professes an distrust of government and a fondness for books such as "Mein Kampf," "The Communist Manifesto," "Peter Pan" and "The Republic."
"There's reason to believe this individual has a mental issue and I think that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol," he said.
"Vitriol" in public debate was a recurring theme in Dupnik's remarks as he blasted the media for "the vitriolic rhetoric" heard on television and radio.
[Updated at 7:57 p.m. ET] Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was among those killed in Saturday's shooting at a constituents meeting outside a Tucson Safeway, Gifford press secretary CJ Karamargin said.
Zimmerman was the staff member who set up today’s event in Giffords’ district, Karamargin said. The Tucson native was engaged to be married.
[Updated at 7:43 p.m. ET] The Army said in a statement that the suspect in the shooting was never in the Army.
"He attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected for service. In accordance with the Privacy Act, we will not discuss why he was rejected," the Army said in a statement.
[Updated at 7:21 p.m. ET] Jared Lee Loughner, the suspect, had a limited presence on social-media sites, including YouTube and MySpace. Here's a sampling of some of the messages that CNN found on Loughner's pages:
MySpace
December 26, 2010: I'm not going to change the mistakes, you don't know – funny! (I think the CIA watches my-space)
December 30, 2010: I now understand a certain word - Cult!
YouTube
December 15, 2010: If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon.
I define terrorist.
Thus a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially
as a political weapon.
If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
You call me a terrorist.
Thus the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
December 15, 2010: The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's Constitution.
You don't have to accept the federalist laws.
Nonetheless, read the United States of America's Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws.
You're literate, listener?
Read more about Loughner's digital footprint on CNN.com
[Updated at 7:12 p.m. ET] The University of Arizona's men's basketball game against Stanford University has been postponed following the shootings.
"The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy," Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne said.
The game will be played at 12:30 p.m. MST Sunday.
[Updated at 6:48 p.m. ET] Saturday's deadly shootings at an Arizona constituency meeting outside a Tucson Safeway appear to have “no nexus to terrorism," a law enforcement official said.
This official did not know if there had been any recent threat against Rep Giffords but said there are frequent threats to various members of Congress, mostly via phone calls or e-mails, or mailed threats.
[Updated at 6:30 p.m. ET] U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts released this statement on the death of U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Roll, who was killed in the shootings:
"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."
[Updated at 6:16 p.m. ET] The Tea Party released this statement regarding the shootings:
“We at the Tea Party Express are shocked and saddened to hear about the terrible tragedy that took place in Tucson today. It is appalling that anyone would commit such unthinkable violence against Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, her staff, a sitting federal judge and the many other victims and families impacted.
"These heinous crimes have no place in America, and they are especially grievous when committed against our elected officials. Spirited debate is desirable in our country, but it only should be the clash of ideas. An attack on anyone for political purposes, if that was a factor in this shooting, is an attack on the democratic process. We join with everyone in vociferously condemning it."
Read the full story on CNN.com
[Updated at 5:41 p.m. ET] Who is Gabrielle Giffords? She's a Democrat who was first elected in 2006. She has served as chairwoman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and also holds seats on the House Science and Technology and Armed Services committees.
She won her third term in a closely contested race against a Tea Party-sponsored candidate and was one of three Democratic legislators who reported vandalism at their offices following the March vote on health care reform.
She is married to Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, a NASA astronaut who is scheduled to lead a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The two married in 2007, after meeting four years prior in China, as young leaders selected by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Giffords told the New York Times in her wedding announcement.
The article described their courtship as a drawn-out affair between two deeply committed civic servants who slowly found their way to each other. When they met, Giffords was seeing someone and Kelly was married.
After Giffords split from her boyfriend, she invited Kelly to join her on a tour of the Arizona State Prison in Florence.
"I’d been working on legislation dealing with capital punishment. Mark is the son of police officers — well, he just really wanted to sit in ‘the chair,' " she told the newspaper.
The two married three years later, they married at an organic produce farm in Amado, Arizona, called Agua Linda. An avid recycler, Giffords wore a Vera Wang gown borrowed from a friend.
"To a bride who moves at a velocity that exceeds that of anyone else in Washington, and a groom who moves at a velocity that exceeds 17,000 miles per hour," a wedding guest said in a toast to the couple.
[Updated at 5:20 p.m. ET] Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer expressed condolences for the shooting victims - 6 are dead and 12 injured.
"I am just heartbroken. Gabby (Giffords) is more than just a colleague she is a friend. She has always been a noble public servant," an emotional Brewer said, pausing for composure.
"I ask the people of Arizona and the people of America to keep the victims and their families in their prayers, and pray for their recovery and pray that in Arizona we never have to experience a tragedy like this ever again."
Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.
Judge John Roll, the chief judge on the U.S. District Court for Arizona, was among 6 people killed, along with a 9-year-old girl, officials said.
Witnesses said the gunman shot Giffords at point blank range through the head and then continued firing. The suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as Jared Lee Loughner, has been taken into custody.
[Updated at 4:52 p.m. ET] Chief Judge John Roll was among 6 people killed at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery store Saturday.
[Updated at 4:30 p.m. ET] The suspect in a shooting at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery story is a white male born in 1988, CNN's Jeanne Meserve has confirmed from a federal law enforcement source.
Six people have died, including a 9-year-old girl, and 12 were injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, authorities said.
[Updated at 4:07 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition and a young child has died after a shooting at a political meeting at an Arizona grocery store, a hospital spokesman said Saturday.
Giffords, who was hosting the event, is under anesthesia after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head "through and through," said Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director at the University Medical Center in Tucson.
"The Congresswoman is not deceased. She is in critical condition," Rhee said in a press conference. "I am very optimistic about recovery."
Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.
[Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET] Six people have died and 12 - including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - were injured in a shooting at a political meeting at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store Saturday, according to Rick Kastigar of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
[Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET] A suspect is in custody in the shootings of at least 12 people, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, at a constituent meeting at an Arizona grocery store, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
"The suspect is in custody. No further details on the motive or other victims are available at this time," the statement said. "The U.S. Capitol Police are directly involved in this investigation. As more information is developed, it will be provided. In the interim, all Members and staff are advised to take reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security."
A statement from President Obama confirmed that some people had died.
"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tucson, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded," he said.
"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. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."
[Updated at 3:00 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is currently undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the head, a spokeswoman for the University Medical Center in Tucson said.
Nine patients were brought to the hospital, including a child. All of them are in either serious or critical condition and are undergoing surgery, spokeswoman Darci Slaten said.
A federal judge was also among those shot, a law enforcement official said. It is not clear whether he was among those taken to the hospital.
[Updated at 2:43 p.m. ET] There were conflicting reports Saturday about the condition of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords following a shooting Saturday at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store. Giffords' press secretary said the congresswoman remains in surgery for her injuries, disputing an earlier report from a law enforcement source saying she had died.
[Updated at 2:23 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords died Saturday after a gunman opened fire at a Tucson, Arizona grocery store, a law enforcement source said. Giffords, who had been holding a meeting with constituents, was among at least 12 people shot.
[Updated at 1:51 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was among at least 12 people shot at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store, a Democratic source told CNN's Dana Bash. The source called her injuries "pretty serious."
[Updated at 1:41 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was meeting with constituents at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona, where at least 12 people were injured in a shooting shortly after 10 a.m. MST Saturday, a spokesman for the Pima County sheriff's Department said. It is unclear whether Giffords was among those hurt.
"Several" people were shot Saturday at a grocery store in Tucson,
Arizona, a spokesman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. No other details were immediately available.
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The pattern of his writings (on YouTube) suggests someone for whom English is a second language. He also spoke of sleepwalking and conscious dreaming. He will probably say he was asleep when he did this terrible thing.
The shooter is a lunatic. His youtube videos make no sense at all. http://www.youtube.com/user/Classitup10#p/u/4/E8Wr6AeZTCE
Hello dear republicans,
all you must be really proud to promote people to carry guns, maybe one day you republicans open yours eyes to see the truth. finaly my heart goes to the families whom lost their loves in this terrible tragedy.
This terrible incident is in part due to the inflammatory rhetoric of the the far right. I especially blame the far right media for provoking people like this shooter!
Satah Palins sends her condolences to the " family of Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today's tragic shooting in Arizona." on her website. Did she die? Secondly, how hyprocitical!
I can't help but laugh at all the right-wingers making idiotic comments about how a liberal was responsible. Right...because it was a liberal who had a website with Gifford on their "hit list" and in the cross hairs of a rifle. No, that was Sarah Palin. And it was a liberal who suggested taking 'second amendment remedies' if you didn't like the election results. No, that was teabagger Sharron Angle. Tea baggers are nothing but domestic terrorists calling themselves patriots.
ummm, Mike....not ALL Christian Republicans are deranged....thank you very much. ignorant ppl like YOU stir the hate...shame on you
Yes they are
Hey CNN- FYI, it's spelled "TUCSON" NOT "TUSCON". *sheesh*
You want the poster boy for capital punishment? Seems like this guy. What did that nine-year-old do to deserve this?
I AM NOT SURPRISED AT ALL:JUST KEEP ON SPREADING YOUR HATE AND LIES: RUSH LIMBAUGH, BECK AND SARA PALIN – AND FOX-NEWS, WHO WILL PROBABLY MANAGE TO BLAME OBAMA FOR THIS HORRIBLE CRIME TOO...
I agree with Paul's comment. What should we expect when the tone of the right wing has brainwashed so many people in
this country. They fail to apply any grace, humility and understanding of the need for balance with the political process of
our country. It is a blame game that spreads hate and anger. Is this great Nation ready to turn our beautiful homeland over to a few incensed people that have way too much exposure to divide our beautiful Country.Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, etc.. We might as well hand ourselves over to the terrorists out there. What's the difference. Let's pray for Gabrielle and all the victims.
Thank you CNN for this opportunity to sit at our computers and troll at each other whenever something bad happens, or just always.
So you'd have preferred it if this tragedy went unreported and unrecognized by the country?
Sounds like the 2nd amendment remedies that the Republicans keep talking about. And yes, the GOPs are right. Right wing terrorists can threaten Democracy with the power of guns.
[Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET] Six people have died and 12 – including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords – were injured in a shooting at a political meeting at a Tuscon, Arizona, grocery store Saturday, according to Rick Kastigar of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
CNN, please verify facts before you blast the airways/internet with ungrounded stories like the one captioned. Misinformation is as bad or worse than no information.
??????
Had she died, a republican governor could have replaced her with a republican congressman. The election is over and we all must remember what republican candidate Sharon Angle said: ". . . people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around? I’ll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out.”
"People are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies"?
I guess they are. If you can't beat a democrat at the polls, your governor might replace them with a republican is a Second Amendment remedy gives them the opportunity.
Looks like a republican just exercised a 'Second Amendment remedy."
People of america please after see this shooting we as a people have to put the man to death right away we do not need a trial and years of appeals he must die tomorrow would be fine. You cant have any defense for him if our country would just change on captial crimes we would not have all these killing if you kill someone you should die right away. I know if my family menber was ever killed by some idiot i would go on a killing spree to get some pay back there would be no trial.
Between the mail bombings and this, you can bet DHS and TSA will get more power and you can also bet the last of your rights, freedoms and liberties will be done away with in all in the name of security.
Then why were u here Adam. Ur annoying
Sarah Palin's website has a GUN SITE on the shooting victim. If you don't think there's a connection between completely crazy *ss behavior of whackos and people like Ms. Palin actively encouraging the ASSASSINATION of democratically elected representatives, then you're too stupid to read this.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/24/sarah-palins-pac-puts-gun_n_511433.html
(SHARRON ANGLE) SECOND AMENDMENT REMEDIES. THIS NEEDS TO STOP .
Of course this was done for political reasons!! IT WAS A POLITICAL EVENT!! You don't have to be a genius to figure it out!! Sarah "Don't retreat, RELOAD!" Palin and Michelle "2nd Amendment solution" Bachmann have blood on their hands. SarahPAC listed Gabby Giffords on a hitlist of 20 congress memebers to be "taken out" because they voted for the Health Care Reform Bill. REPUBLICAN TEA PARTY TERRORISM is what this incident was and the shooter needs to go to GITMO!
WHERE DO YOU GET OFF POSTING THAT.
The smoke hasn't even cleared and yet morons like Deb are already blaming the Tea Party and others on this site are pointing a finger at the NRA. Typical liberal lunatics. Unaware of the facts but ready to point the finger. At least you didn't balem this on George Bush...yet.
I thought Obama was supposed to close Gitmo. Nope – still open – just another lie and broken promise from the president.
I understand what you are saying.... but for now it is time to pray for the families of those killed and wounded.
You are insane
The guy who shot her was identified by the associated press and if you look at his youtube channel he was CLEARLY a communist, not a tea party affiliate. Regardless, the only person responsible for this is THE SHOOTER. Not Palin, who had that chart that was in poor taste but not a literal target list, and not Obama for those who want to blame him.
Deb, u are right on the money, ignore the knuckledragging Teabaggers.
Right on for you. It is CNN as well that promotes messengers of hate like Palin. It definately is the Republicans and the Teabaggers.
you're really dumb, gun laws have nothing to do with this, the gun law is fine you have a seperation of people, 2 types of them, 1 is the people who respect guns and own firearms for safety or for whatever reason, and you have 2, the people who want to get ahold of a gun because they were wronged somewhere in their life, people who think gun laws have anything to do with someone getting ahold of a gun and going rambo are really ignorant, even if there was no open/concealed carry law, if he really wanted he could get ahold of one and go shoot up a public place
OMG What B.S. This crazy gunman had a video of an American Flag burning as his one and only "favorite" youtube vid. Conservatives do NOT do that. Liberals consider it a sacrament (along with having an abortion or gay marriage.) My guess is this murderous looney was 1. The product of a broken home. 2. Raised by a raging, rabid Liberal Mother who immasculated him every chance she got. 3. Had a completely absent and disinterested father. 4. Joined the Military because his mom said he could get "free school." 5. Is likely a closet case....and 6. Obviously has SEVERE mental problems. Just guessin'.
I can see the morons who replied have no idea how ugly Palin and her gun toting fanatics got out here in Az. over the 2010 elections. She stirred up all the right wing nut jobs who then trashed Democratic offices all over the state. Shooting them up in both Prescott and Tucson. The hate mail was off the charts.
Deb gets off with a post like that because it is in fact true. The other two replies just show the right has a problem with the truth.
Of course Deb! Instantly blame Republicans and Palin when the shooter's YouTube page clearly shows he is a communist and lunatic. But nice try.
It's people like you that gives liberals a terrible reputation. After reading posts this morning of accusations that this was from right wing extremists and all those intelligent responses, this fellow appears to have serious issues and had been studying communists and Mind Comp materials and claiming on his sites that something big will happen. People that knew him are saying he was neither a left or a right leaning individual but simply had issues. More to come. I'm listening to our local news stations here in district 8, Tucson. So please, before spouting off your ignorance, wait for the facts, and you obviously need help with your filled rage and outbursts of people you don't even have a clue about except of what you hear. Nice...way to go.
Sarah Palin is now a proven terrorist:
On Jan 8, 2011, Sarah Palin's fundraising website SarahPac posted an advertisement (www.legitgov.org) to target Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (photo has since been removed).
If the Obama administration is so hellbent on rounding up civilians as "enemy combatants", here is his chance to put the satanist Palin behind bars. Go on, Barry, prove that you're not a fraud and put your money where your mouth is. Arrest Palin
Have to laugh at the ones commenting about this horrific event being a Right Wing nut this and that. The shooter is a Democrat and so is Congresswoman Giffords.
Deb, either it was politically motivated, or the perp was opposed to Giffords' husband being an astronaut.
Deb, you must know something that no one else does. No one knows what motivated this loon. The statements attributed to him makes him out to be anti-government, anti-religion, and belives himself to have some unique intellectual insights. Not exactly a profile for a right wing anything – I think we should wait until the facts come out before we start pointing fingers at people you just happen to disagree with. Frankly this guy seems like a delusional loon.
Plenty of talk from Democrats about putting their boots on the throats of various businesses in this country as well...
I am not sure that is accurate. The man was on a personal crusade. Here are some posts on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Classitup10#p/a/u/0/7uRjwPWaxiY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHoaZaLbqB4
no gun law would of stopped this .. no feel good law would stopped this ...
This guy's YouTube posts are so disturbed and rambling they are positively creepy.
Arizona has become a very dangerous place; following recent gun laws, and last Presidential visit, which people carried assault rifles. Its totally unsafe to attend any political rally in this conservative state.
you bet i live here and its awful
If people actually carried guns to protect themselves, less people would have been injured and killed and the murderer would have been killed.
The right to peaceful assembly has been stripped from Az.
i feel very sorry for you if you feel that way. good luck...
Such sad news and I feel so bad for these families and the injured. It's time America for better gun control!!!