US Police looking for second Arizona shooting suspect

Washington, Jan 9 (ANI): A second suspect is being sought in connection with the deadly shooting in Tucson in the United States, that killed six people and wounded a dozen others, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, and 18 others were shot on Saturday morning when a gunman opened fire outside a supermarket where Giffords was meeting with her constituents.

According to one of the witnesses, the congresswoman was talking to two people before being shot in the head.

"I saw the congresswoman talking to two people, and then this man suddenly came up and shot her in the head and then shot other people. I think it was a semiautomatic, and he must have got off 20 rounds," he added.

The New York Post quoted law enforcement officials as saying that a 22-year-old suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the shootings, adding that Giffords was the target of the attack.

Six of the victims died. Pima County sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik said among those killed were John M. Roll, the chief judge for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, and a nine-year-old girl.

Forty-year-old Giffords is reported to still be in very critical condition at the University Medical Center in Tucson, where a team of neurosurgeons have operated on her.

According to Dr. Peter Rhee, the hospital's trauma and critical care unit medical director, Giffords was shot once in the head, "through and through," with the bullet going through her brain.

President Barack Obama said the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director, Robert S. Mueller III, was on his way to Arizona to oversee the investigation.

Giffords, who represents Arizona's Eighth District in the south-eastern corner of the state, has been an outspoken critic of Arizona's tough immigration law, which is focused on identifying, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants. She had come under criticism for her vote in favour of the Democrats' health care law, the paper said.

Law enforcement officials also said that she had received threats over the years. Judge Roll had been involved in immigration cases and had previously received death threats as well. (ANI)