Although Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnick did not call Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ shooter by name, at a news conference on Saturday, Dupnick said he is not convinced that the suspect acted alone. A search is on for a person of interest, around 50 years old, Dupnick said.
Jared Lee Loughner, the 22-year-old Arizona man now in custody, is believed to have shot 19 others, six of whom died, including federal judge John Roll and a 9-year-old girl.
Dupnick said Loughner does have a criminal past, had prior contact with law enforcement and had made threats. It was not clear that these threats had been made towards Giffords.
While law enforcement officials work to determine the motive for the Saturday’s shooting rampage, Dupnick said that, “I am not aware of any public official who is not receiving threats.”
In what can only be described as extraordinary, Dupnick offered some comments on the state of political rhetoric and discourse currently taking place in the U.S. saying, “Arizona has become a mecca for prejudice and bigotry.” He pointedly referred to the vitriol of those on the radio and some on television, saying “while that may be free speech…it does not come without consequences.” The Sheriff said the suspect may have a mental issue and susceptible to vitriol.
Dupnick confirmed Giffords was the target of Saturday’s shooting and referenced two “unfortunate incidents” that occurred in the campaign prior to the November 2010 elections. On one occasion, the windows of Giffords’ local office had been smashed and on another, an attendee at a campaign rally had dropped a weapon on the floor from his pants.
Giffords’ shooting is the sixth of a sitting congress person in the history of the U.S.
