<p>Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who officials believe was the target of the shootout remained in critical condition after the brain surgery, though doctors said they were hopeful of her recovery.</p>.<p>The bullet, from a semiautomatic pistol, entered her head from the front and exited through the rear after passing through her brain in what doctors described as a "through and through" injury.<br /><br />The mass shooting that besides gravely wounding Giffords, killed a federal judge amongst five more people, has shocked the nation and raised concerns that the heated political discourse had taken a dangerous turn.<br /><br />Giffords underwent brain surgery after the shooting that authorities said was a targeted attempt on her life.Neurosurgeons at University Medical Center in Tucson operated on the Congresswomen, and doctors were hopeful she would recover, Dr Peter Rhee said during a news conference at the hospital.<br /><br />Giffords was following commands, which is a good sign, he said.C J Karamargin, Giffords' communications director said that Giffords remained in critical condition in intensive care and was not fully conscience.<br /><br />However, he said Gifford's deputy director Ron Barber, who was wounded in the shooting, was "doing very well" and speaking."I'm very optimistic about her recovery," Rhee said.<br /><br />Six people were killed and 13 others were injured in the volley of bullets.The 40-year-old Arizona Democrat was meeting constituents for the first time since surviving a bruising re-election campaign last fall.<br /><br />The Democrat had drawn the ire of critics on the hot- button issues of immigration and the health-care reform. In fact, a vandal had shattered a window of her Tucson office in the days after she cast a vote in favour of the president's health care bill.It was the first time in more than 30 years that a US lawmaker was the victim of an assassination attempt.<br /><br />Police are holding a 22-year-old man in the shooting rampage, which occurred outside a supermarket where Giffords was greeting constituents.The gunman shot Giffords in the head at close range and then continued to fire into the small gathering of people.<br />Law enforcement and medical officials in Arizona said that at least 18 people were shot in the melee and that six of them had died, including John M Roll, the chief US District judge in Arizona, and Gabe Zimmerman, Giffords's local director of community outreach.</p>.<p>Also killed was Christina Taylor Green, a nine-year- old girl, who was born on Sept 11, 2001, and had gone to the event with a neighbour.<br /><br />Two other Giffords' staffers, district director Barber and community outreach aide Pam Simon, were wounded.<br /><br />Authorities said they were seeking a second man as a "person of interest" who might have been at the scene with the gunman.He is not a suspect in the shooting, authorities said.Police said the suspect, whom they would not identify, has refused to cooperate with authorities, invoking his right to remain silent.<br /><br />Police believe he came to the constituent meeting with another individual identified only as a white male in his 50s.<br /><br />Multiple law-enforcement sources say police were questioning Jared Loughner, a 22-year-old Tucson man whose online writings and videos are filled with anti-government messages and rambling rants about mind-control and brainwashing.<br /><br />Authorities also confirmed that a suspicious package was left at Giffords' Tucson headquarters sometime yesterday and was being investigated.Emotions burst to the surface as news of the shooting spread.<br /><br />President Barack Obama promised the full resources of the federal government for what he called an unspeakable act.<br /><br />The president dispatched FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the federal investigation.<br />Gov Jan Brewer, fighting tears, said she was heartbroken by the tragic events and called Giffords a friend she had come to love and respect.<br /><br />Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik was visibly angry as he briefed reporters in Tucson, repeating his belief that the gunman may have been motivated in part by hate-infused talk on radio and television.<br /><br />"I think it's time as a country to do a little soul-searching," Dupnik said.<br />"The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous".<br /><br />The shooting is almost certain to ratchet up the political debate on issues of immigration and health-care reform which have gereated bitter political debate in the past year.<br />Immigration helped drive an often bitter election campaign against her Republican opponent Jesse Kelly </p>
<p>Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who officials believe was the target of the shootout remained in critical condition after the brain surgery, though doctors said they were hopeful of her recovery.</p>.<p>The bullet, from a semiautomatic pistol, entered her head from the front and exited through the rear after passing through her brain in what doctors described as a "through and through" injury.<br /><br />The mass shooting that besides gravely wounding Giffords, killed a federal judge amongst five more people, has shocked the nation and raised concerns that the heated political discourse had taken a dangerous turn.<br /><br />Giffords underwent brain surgery after the shooting that authorities said was a targeted attempt on her life.Neurosurgeons at University Medical Center in Tucson operated on the Congresswomen, and doctors were hopeful she would recover, Dr Peter Rhee said during a news conference at the hospital.<br /><br />Giffords was following commands, which is a good sign, he said.C J Karamargin, Giffords' communications director said that Giffords remained in critical condition in intensive care and was not fully conscience.<br /><br />However, he said Gifford's deputy director Ron Barber, who was wounded in the shooting, was "doing very well" and speaking."I'm very optimistic about her recovery," Rhee said.<br /><br />Six people were killed and 13 others were injured in the volley of bullets.The 40-year-old Arizona Democrat was meeting constituents for the first time since surviving a bruising re-election campaign last fall.<br /><br />The Democrat had drawn the ire of critics on the hot- button issues of immigration and the health-care reform. In fact, a vandal had shattered a window of her Tucson office in the days after she cast a vote in favour of the president's health care bill.It was the first time in more than 30 years that a US lawmaker was the victim of an assassination attempt.<br /><br />Police are holding a 22-year-old man in the shooting rampage, which occurred outside a supermarket where Giffords was greeting constituents.The gunman shot Giffords in the head at close range and then continued to fire into the small gathering of people.<br />Law enforcement and medical officials in Arizona said that at least 18 people were shot in the melee and that six of them had died, including John M Roll, the chief US District judge in Arizona, and Gabe Zimmerman, Giffords's local director of community outreach.</p>.<p>Also killed was Christina Taylor Green, a nine-year- old girl, who was born on Sept 11, 2001, and had gone to the event with a neighbour.<br /><br />Two other Giffords' staffers, district director Barber and community outreach aide Pam Simon, were wounded.<br /><br />Authorities said they were seeking a second man as a "person of interest" who might have been at the scene with the gunman.He is not a suspect in the shooting, authorities said.Police said the suspect, whom they would not identify, has refused to cooperate with authorities, invoking his right to remain silent.<br /><br />Police believe he came to the constituent meeting with another individual identified only as a white male in his 50s.<br /><br />Multiple law-enforcement sources say police were questioning Jared Loughner, a 22-year-old Tucson man whose online writings and videos are filled with anti-government messages and rambling rants about mind-control and brainwashing.<br /><br />Authorities also confirmed that a suspicious package was left at Giffords' Tucson headquarters sometime yesterday and was being investigated.Emotions burst to the surface as news of the shooting spread.<br /><br />President Barack Obama promised the full resources of the federal government for what he called an unspeakable act.<br /><br />The president dispatched FBI Director Robert Mueller to oversee the federal investigation.<br />Gov Jan Brewer, fighting tears, said she was heartbroken by the tragic events and called Giffords a friend she had come to love and respect.<br /><br />Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik was visibly angry as he briefed reporters in Tucson, repeating his belief that the gunman may have been motivated in part by hate-infused talk on radio and television.<br /><br />"I think it's time as a country to do a little soul-searching," Dupnik said.<br />"The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous".<br /><br />The shooting is almost certain to ratchet up the political debate on issues of immigration and health-care reform which have gereated bitter political debate in the past year.<br />Immigration helped drive an often bitter election campaign against her Republican opponent Jesse Kelly </p>