POLITICS: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot in Arizona; Still Critical, Sedated; Cops Seek Second Suspect

Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at close range Saturday while hosting a public event outside a Tucson supermarket, reports NPR. Several other people also were shot, and the AP says at least one aide was killed. A hospital spokeswoman says Giffords is in surgery after conflicting media reports on whether she survived. Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat, was hosting a "Congress on Your Corner" event and talking to constituents when shot. The gunman, reportedly a male in his early 20s, is in custody.

Giffords remained heavily sedated and in critical condition today as investigators sought to understand what motivated a gunman to carry out an assassination attempt on the Democratic lawmaker in a rampage that killed six. A University Medical Center spokeswoman said that Giffords underwent a two-hour surgery yesterday and has not been conscious since the shooting. More information is expected at a news conference.

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, meanwhile, confirmed that a second suspect was being sought. Officials released a security camera image of a 40- to 50-year-old white man with dark hair who had been seen in the area.