Giffords Press Conference Liveblog

[brooklynite]

Medical Director, Tucson Police Chief and Mayor will speak

[brooklynite]

1. 10 patients received; 1 died; 5 in critical condition

[brooklynite]

2. VERY OPTIMISTIC about Giffords Recovery

[MadBadger]

3. A child was killed

[brooklynite]

4. Dead patient was a child

[brooklynite]

5. Giffords surgery has been completed

[MadBadger]

6. Did he just say he is optimistic about a recovery, but she was shot in the brain?

holy shit

[brooklynite]

8. He described it as "through and through"

I assume that mean the bullet entered the front and exited the rear

[MadBadger]

11. Thats hard for me to fathom

I dont know the science behind it, but to survive that? I would think shed be doa.

[Warpy]

13. It depens on which structures are hit and what caliber bullet

A .22 does the most damage because it lacks sufficient mass to exit and just bounces around inside the skull, tearing tissue as it goes. A through and through shot will affect her short term, but as long as it missed the upper spinal cord and midbrain, she will recover. It can be a long, hard road, though.

Good thing she's got Congressional health insurance.

[Fleshdancer]

7. Shot in the head through and through including the brain...

Surgery is complete, she's going into intensive care, doc is optimistic. (Giffords)

In other developments:

Nine year old victim died. :cry: Dear Goddess help us all.

[brooklynite]

9. Mayor speaking now

Sheriffs Dept leading investigation

[brooklynite]

10. Chief of Police now speaking

secured the offices and residence of Rep Giffords and other members of Congress as a precaution

Asking members of the media to check their information before reporting

[Gin]

12. has McCain or the Gov. of AZ made a statement?