Tragedy rocked the city of Tucson, Arizona on Saturday January 8, 2011 when a gunman opened fire at a public assembly outside of a Safeway where United States Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was speaking. Fourteen people were injured and six people were killed during the shooting spree, including District Judge John Roll and a nine-year-old girl. The gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, was finally apprehended after he ran out of ammunition.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords
Congresswoman Giffords was shot at point-blank range in the head at Saturday's event, “Congress On Your Corner”. Following the massacre, the Congresswoman was airlifted to University Medical Center in Tucson where she underwent emergency surgery for her injuries. By Tuesday January 11, 2011, the Congresswoman, who remains in an intensive care unit, has begun breathing on her own, a positive sign.
Gabrielle Giffords, a 40-year-old Tucson-native, was a staunch supporter of President Obama's health care reform, making her a political target during the November mid-term elections. Though the motives behind the January 8, 2011 shooting spree is unclear, Giffords and ten other Democratic members of Congress, who also backed the President's healthcare reform, were victims of harassment. Congresswoman Giffords' office was vandalized in March of 2010 after she voted in favor of President Obama's controversial healthcare bill.
The Youngest Victim
Christina Taylor Green was born September 11, 2001 and tragically died in another display of violence just nine years later. Though her life began on a day marred with horror, she became involved with all the typical thrills of a little girl. Christina loved to ride horses and dance, ballet, hip-hop, and jazz. She already knew what college she wanted to attend - Penn State - and knew that she wanted a career where she could help people who were less fortunate than her.
Christina's family describes her as having been a “vibrant individual” who was “excited about life”. She was the only girl on the local baseball team and had recently been elected to the student council at her elementary school, an achievement that prompted her to want to meet Congresswoman Giffords. Though her life was book-ended by tragedy, this young lady's short life was lived with a vigor that was totally opposed to the two tragedies that would ultimately begin and end her life.
The Gunman
Jared Lee Loughner, the 22-year-old accused gunman of the mass shooting at the Safeway on January 8, 2011, is said to have changed drastically in the year leading up to the shooting. According to Loughner's friend Tong Shan, “he was a good person that somehow changed so much”. When authorities searched Loughner's room, they discovered a safe with papers saying, “I planned ahead”, “My assassination”, and “Giffords”, with what appeared to be Loughner's signature.
Loughner has now been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and attempting to murder a member of Congress, all of which are federal charges. He could, however, still face charges at the State level. According to witnesses, Loughner walked up to the Congresswoman, who was speaking to a couple about Medicare, and shot her in the head. After that, he just began to shoot indiscriminately. After running out of ammunition, the gunman was taken down by bystanders.
The once sleepy town of Tucson was awoken by unspeakable tragedy on that January morning. The life of a Congresswoman will forever be changed as were the lives of so many others who were at the “Congress On Your Corner” event. Jared Lee Loughner, the disturbed young gunman, faces an unknown amount of jail time for the crimes that he is accused of committing. Meanwhile, Americans sit in shock at yet another senseless tragedy.
Sources
guardian.co.uk “US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot As Six Die In Arizona Massacre” by Ben Quinn and Paul Gallagher (Accessed on January 11, 2011)
msnbc.msn.com “Dad Pursued Ariz. Suspect Before Shooting” by Amanda Lee Meyers and Justin Pritchard (Accessed on January 11, 2011)
politicsdaily.com “Christina Taylor Green, September 11, 2001-January 8, 2011” by Donna Trussell (Accessed on January 11, 2011)
azstarnet.com “Born, Died Between 2 Tragedies” by Stephanie Innes (Accessed January 12, 2011)
huffingtonpost.com “Christina Taylor Green: Arizona Shooting Claims Life Of 9-year-Old Born On 9/11” (Accessed on January 11, 2011)
abcnews.go.com “Jared Loughner Radically Changed Before Alleged Shooting, Friend Says” by Lee Ferran, Jason Ryan, Emily Friedman, and Richard Esposito (Accessed on January 11, 2011)
nytimes.com “In Attack's Wake, Political Repercussions” by Marcy Lacey (Accessed on January 12, 2011)
articles.cnn.com “Massacre Suspect “Mentally Disturbed,” Former Teacher Says” by Drew Griffin, Kathleen Johnston, Scott Zamost (Accessed on January 12, 2011)
Christine Rachuy - My name is Christine Rachuy and I enjoy writing on all different subjects. I tend to write mostly about Christianity, music, photography, ...
