U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona and six others have died after a gunman opened fire at a public event on Saturday, Pima County sheriff's office in Arizona confirmed to National Public Radio. A gunman ran up to Giffords, 40, and shot her in the head as she addressed supporters outside a Safeway grocery store, according to media reports. The gunman was in custody, according to media reports. Giffords, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" event at the store in northwest Tucson, NPR reported. Giffords, 40, a Democrat, is married to U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly. She took office in January 2007, emphasizing issues such as immigration reform, embryonic stem-cell research, alternative energy sources and a higher minimum wage. Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40978517/ns/politics/
