Update [2011-1-8 16:10:2 by Steven D]: The University of Arizona Medical Center spokeperson just said at a press conference that (I heard this on MsNBC) the Congresswoman is alive and he is optimistic about her chances for survival. He also stated that among the ten people brought to his hospital, five are in critical condition and one has died, a child.

MsNBC has also reported that the Chief Federal District Judge John Roll, appointed by the First President Bush was shot and killed at the event.

The shooter has been identified as Jared Laughner, a young white male in his twenties.

Eyewitnesses have described Laughner as “young, mid-to-late 20s, white, clean-shaven with short hair and wearing dark clothing.”

Update [2011-1-8 15:15:26 by Steven D]: MsNBC reporting that a Federal judge was also shot and may have been killed [italicized phrase added by Steven D in light of uncertainty] at Congresswoman Gifford’s event.

Democratic Congressman representing Tuscon Arizona,Gabrielle Giffords, was shot and may have been killed [italicized phrase added by Steven D in light of uncertainty] today at a campaign event sponsored by her office in Tuscon.

Update [2011-1-8 15:5:58 by BooMan]: Multiple credible reports says that the congresswomen is not dead, but in surgery.

Witnesses are stating she was shot in the head at point blank range:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head while holding a public event in Tucson, Fox News and National Public Radio reported Saturday. […]

Giffords was shot point blank in the head, Fox said.

Other reports indicate the gunman, a young man described to be in his early 20’s, opened fire indiscriminately after arriving at the event, and that 12 other people were also shot, of which 6 others besides Congresswoman Giffords also reportedly died from their wounds:

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and six others died after a gunman opened fire at a public event on Saturday, the Pima County, Ariz., sheriff’s office confirms. The 40-year-old Democrat was outside a Tucson grocery store when a gunman ran up and began firing indiscriminately. The suspect was taken into police custody. […]

Giffords was talking to a couple when the suspect ran up and fired indiscriminately from about four feet away, Michaels said.

The suspect ran off and was tackled by a bystander. He was taken into custody. Witnesses described him as in his late teens or early 20s.

My deepest sympathies to all those who were murdered or wounded, and to their families and friends, as a result of this tragic and senseless incident.

Update [2011-1-8 14:34:31 by Steven D]: The Republican candidate, Jesse Kelly, who Giffords defeated, ran a campaign in which he posed numerous times with guns and other military weapons and held campaign events at shooting ranges to “target” Rep. Giffords. Go view the photographs at the Dkos diary which researched his campaign to bring these images tio light. In light of this tragedy they frankly make me sick to my stomach.