BREAKING- GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, 12 OTHERS, SHOT in AZ

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Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 7 others (as confirmed by CNN & NPR) have been fatally shot at in Tucson Arizona, during a public event with constituents at a local Safeway grocery store. Giffords was shot point blank, in the head. Little is known about the shooter other than he has been described as in his late teens to early 20s.

While it is easy to speculate the motivations for such an act, we should refrain from making jumping to conclusions until more details are available. I will continue to update this information when possible. Let's keep everyone in our thoughts at this time...

UPDATES:
LATEST: 8:38 - Sheriff also condemns violent rhetoric, says Arizona has become "the mecca of prejudice and bigotry." (See Huffington Post link below for full comment.)  Count has also increased,19 people were shot today, 6 have died.


Conflicting reports- New report says it is possible that Giffords is still alive and is currently in surgery.

• 2:40 - Other news sources are no longer reporting that she is dead. New reports say that she is in surgery.
• 2:43 - There will be a news conference later today, at 3:30pm.
• 2:45 - The shooter is a 21 year old male. No other details have been made available.
• 2:55 - UPDATE FROM HOSPITAL- Giffords is ALIVE and in surgery, with 9 others in critical or serious condition, including a child. Briefing in 40 minutes. 
• 3:04 - Giffords' Aide has died in the attack, according to NBCNews (via Twitter).
• 3:31 - Sources told MSNBC a semi-automatic weapon was used. The FBI will be leading the investigation. News conference is not yet underway, but will start soon. 
• 3:55 - I apologize for the delay. Judge John Roll has been confirmed dead. Doctors expect Giffords to "pull through." A second person was arrested. 
• 4:29- (I am unable to get to a computer at the moment, and Blogger is giving me trouble with editing this on my phone. Please stay tuned to Twitter & the Huffington Post for further updates.) There has been another confirmed death- a 9 year old little girl. The shooter has been identified as 22 year old Jared Loughner. At this time, at least 1 other arrest has been made, with a 3rd expected to follow.
• 6:04 -  Loughner claiming he acted alone, according to officials familiar with the case. (Reported by AP) A 9mm Glock was recovered. The suspect's (unconfirmed) YouTube, Myspace, & Facebook accounts have been suspended/removed, pictures and videos are circulating on Twitter. I've also been informed by @DustyTrice that there will be several press conferences starting at 6pm in Arizona.
• 7:45 - The staffer has been identified as Gabe Zimmerman, Rep. Giffords' director of community outreach, according to Politico. RIP. 
• 8:20- (By 6pm, they meant AZ time.) Press conference with the sheriff is currently airing on MSNBC & CNN. Second suspect is "white... possibly in his 50s" according to sheriff.
• Westboro Baptist "Church" hate group has announced that they will be picketing the funerals of those who died today. Heartless.
• 8:31 - Tucson tea party rep says they won't tone down the rhetoric. (Also - many, including myself, suspect that Loughner may be schizophrenic. Sheriff says he is "unstable.")
• 8:38 - Sheriff also condemns violent rhetoric, says Arizona has become "the mecca of prejudice and bigotry." (See Huffington Post link below for full comment.)  Count has also increased,19 people were shot today, 6 have died.

Sources:
Tucson Citizen
Huffington Post
NPR
CNN (live broadcast)
Twitter - word is that Sarah Palin has taken down her "target" picture off of her website. Giffords was one of Palin's "targets." Also, an act.ly petition is currently going around, demanding that @SarahPalinUSA take responsibility for what happened.