Second Suspect In Arizona Massacre In Question Jared Loughner Gabrielle Giffords

Police investigating the Arizona massacre, which left six people dead and a US congresswoman fighting for her life, have released an image of a second suspect they wish to question. The man – described as white and between 40 and 50 years of age – was in the Safeway grocery store at the time of the shooting. And, crucially, police say he was ‘in the vicinity’ of main suspect 22-year-old Jared Loughner, who was also in the store before the shooting.

Pima County Sheriff’s Department released an image from the Safeway security cameras, which shows the man they wish to question. At a press conference yesterday Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said the man may have been an accomplice. The man was last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark blue jacket, and police hope that Tuscon residents will recognise the man and come forward to provide information.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head, the bullet passing through her brain before exiting on the other side, in what is believed to be the first assassination attempt on a female politician in America. The gunman then went berserk, firing indiscriminately into a crowd of two dozen people before he was tackled to the ground by two brave bystanders. Six were killed, including a federal judge and a nine-year-old girl, while another 12 were wounded. Incredibly, Mrs Giffords was one of the survivors. Doctors said they were ‘optimistic’ for her recovery.

A suspect has been arrested – and now police are hunting a second man who may have been involved. Mrs Giffords, a 40-year-old pro-abortion Democrat whose husband is an astronaut, was holding a constituency meeting outside a Safeway store when she was shot in the head. Her husband Captain Mark Kelly flew to her bedside last night. He is due to pilot the shuttle on its last mission to the International Space Station in April.

Witnesses said the suspect, Jared Loughner, walked calmly up to Mrs Giffords and fired at point blank range. Loughner then fired 15-20 shots into the crowd, witnesses said. He was tackled to the ground by two brave men.

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