for her life. we also know that at least five people lost their lives in this tragedy. among them were a federal judge, john roll, who has served america's legal system for almost 40 years, and a young girl who was barely 9 years old. i've spoken to arizona governor jan brewer and offered the full resources of the federal government. the suspect is currently in custody, but we don't yet know what provoked this unspeakable act. a comprehensive investigation is currently underway and at my direction, director bob moeller is en route to arizona to help coordinate these efforts. i've also spoken to the democratic and republican leaders in the house. gabby giffords was a friend of mine. she is not only an extraordinary public servant, but she is also somebody who is

warm and caring. she is well liked by her colleagues and well liked by her constituents. her husband, mark kelly, is a navy captain and one of america's valiant astronauts. it's not surprising that today gabby was doing what she always does -- listening to the hopes and concerns of her neighbors. that is the essence of what our democracy is all about. that is why this is more than a tragedy for those involved. it is a tragedy for arizona and a tragedy for our entire country. what americans do at times of tragedy is to come together and support each other. so at this time i ask all americans to join me and michelle in keeping all the victims and their families, including gabby, in our thoughts and prayers.

those who have been injured, we are rooting for them and i know gabby is as tough as they come. and i am hopeful that she's going to pull through. obviously, our hearts go out to the family members of those who have been slain. we are going to get to the bottom of this and we're going to get through this, but in the meantime, i think all of us need to make sure that we're offering our thoughts and prayers to those concerned. thank you. >> president obama, giving remarks after the shooting of arizona eighth district representative gabrielle giffords. at least five people killed during an event she was hosting for constituents in tucson, including federal judge john roll and a 9-year-old. police say the alleged shooter is in custody. he's been identified by people familiar with the investigation

as jared loughner, 22 years old. the pima county sheriff's office says he used a pistol during the shootings. federal officials are examining a myspace page that belonged to jared loughner as well as a youtube video that was linked to him. the myspace page, which was removed within minutes of the gunman being identified by u.s. officials, included a goodbye friends message that was published just hours before the shooting. it asked friends to please don't be mad at me, and that is the latest on the shootings and the alleged gunman today in tucson. we'll take a look now at an earlier briefing held by governor jan brewer. >> good afternoon. all of arizona is shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy that transpired this morning in tucson. i have been in contact throughout the morning with law

enforcement officials as well as mayor walkup, and just a short while ago with the president of the united states. the president conveyed his heartfelt sympathies for our state and shared determination to ensure that justice is fully served. i am just heartbroken. gabby's more than just a colleague. she's actually a friend. she's always been a noble public servant and my thoughts and my prayers are with congresswoman giffords and her family, the congresswoman's staff and their families, as well as other victims of this senseless and cruel violence. i've ordered the flags to be flown at half staff in honor of those who have lost their lives today.

it's an unbelievable tragedy that the people of arizona experienced today, one of which, of course, in our worst nightmares we never could have imagined would have taken place . i must tell you that a lot of information has been provided to all of you. we are in constant contact with some officials and we will be kept abreast and we will do whatever it is that is necessary for us to do, but i will say that i ask the people of arizona, i ask the people of america to keep the victims and their families in their prayers and to pray for their recovery and pray that we never again in arizona to ever experience a tragedy like this ever again.

i will be glad to answer -- >> can you talk more about your relationship? can you talk about how far back you go and the last time you saw her? >> gabby served in the arizona state senate when i was in the secretary of state's office and i've grown to love her and respect her, and certainly, as campaigning statewide, as she campaigned in the southern part of arizona, i campaigned in the same areas. not only during the campaign effort, but certainly just going down and speaking to different groups, like the red cross or davis mon than airport , gabby always showed up and we were always and often appearing together on the same stage. and she was a genuine nice, kind, hard-working servant for the people of district eight.

always courteous to everyone. she never really played partisan politics. she was serious about what she did and she was always concerned with what was good for her district. and so you have to admire someone like that. she was a very gracious and is a very gracious elected public servant. >> governor, are you [inaudible] >> i think that it is something that certainly a state would not like to have happen in their state. tragedies happen and certainly we know that people should be held accountable and responsible for their actions. it certainly doesn't show favor on the state of arizona, but we have a lot of good, decent people here, and this is one of

those horrible tragedies that we face, and we need to move on and make sure that those kinds of things don't happen. >> governor, will this change [inaudible] >> it's interesting. i've always than sort of the kind of person that always was with the people. i had an incident when i served on the board of supervisors in maricopa county, when we had a shooting take place and one of our supervisors was shot. at that time it was a realization that these sings can happen, that we have, for whatever the reasons, disturbed people in our communities that sometimes do terrible, violent things, and sometimes those of us that serve in elected positions are the target. so at that time i was a little bit concerned, but i wasn't afraid. i was not afraid. but, of course, security was beefed up, and as we know,

security was beefed up down here, because i've always believed that government ought to be open and people ought to be freely to be able to access the facilities. i think it's important. but i would assume under the circumstances that we've all seen today the security in some manner probably will be increased. >> the president conveyed his sympathies. what did you have a chance to tell him? >> well, basically the same thing. it was very, very gracious. it was totally nonpartisan. it was not political. he wanted to assure me as the president of the united states that whatever that they could do, they would send their resources. they would be there for whatever was needed, that they would be working with my team. i made sure that all the numbers were conveyed to their staff and that we would be posted. he indicated that the f.b.i. would be doing the investigation and that we would be in touch.

i told him -- you know, i tried to tell him and explain to him what a horrible tragedy and what a sad, sad day this is for not only arizona, but for america. >> governor, have you spoken to anyone from representative giffords' staff, family or circle? >> i have not. i have spoken with mayor walkup, who has spoken with, i believe, congresswoman giffords' father, and he told me that he would keep me posted. and i spoke to the speaker. but i have not. we have not been able to reach them. >> governor, will this have any impact on the event scheduled out here on monday? >> at this point in time we have discussed that. you know, we had been down here -- we had just begun the first 10, 15 minutes for the activity tomorrow, when we got news that this awful tragedy had happened. so we just shut everything

down. and speaking with the speaker, i think that this afternoon and early tomorrow morning we'll determine just exactly what direction we will be going. >> did you ever work with ms. giffords on any specific legislation? >> i think that i have. i can't think of it right now in regards to it, but i remember being on the floor with gabby, talking about legislation and just as when i became secretary of state. so it would be something that i'd have to go back and look at my records. >> thank you, governor, thank you. >> you were rehearsing? >> no, we were working on the logistics in the statehouse. >> the decision about monday is to be made tomorrow?

>> governor brewer was scheduled to deliver her state of the state speech on monday from the state capitol in phoenix. she said she's not sure whether she'll deliver that speech after the shootings today. representative gabrielle giffords was shot in the head earlier today by a man who opened fire during an event she was hosting near a safeway grocery store in northwest tucson. several other people were wounded and at least five people were killed, including federal judge john roll and a 9-year-old. according to the a.p., doctors say representative giffords was responding to commands. the 40-year-old congresswoman was elected to her third term last november. she is married to mark kelly, a former astronaut. she tweeted shortly before the shooting.

she described the events that she was holding -- it was called "the congress on your corner" event, writing, "my first congress on your corner starts now. please stop by to let me know what's on your mind or tweet me later." and we've been hearing from a number of political leaders through statements, including president obama, who writes, "such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society." he asks all americans to join him and first lady michelle obama in keeping representatives giffords, the victim of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers. house speaker john boehner, republican of ohio, also released a statement, saying, "an attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society. this is a sad day for our country." that, from a statement earlier by speaker boehner. and house minority leader nancy pelosi also released a

statement, saying that "this terrible act of violence is a national tragedy. an today is a very sad day for our country. congresswoman giffords is a brillants and courageous member of congress, bringing to washington the views of a new generation of national leaders. and it's especially tragic that she was attacked as she was meeting with her constituents, whom she serves with such dedication and distinction." that, from a statement by minority leader pelosi. senator harry reid also released a statement saying that congresswoman giffords is one of our most dynamic members of congress. as a representative of a neighboring state, i've watched her career closely and admired her work on behalf of the state of arizona." he says, "she'll be in the thoughts of every american, and in particular, those who dedicate their lives to public service, as she and her staff have." people familiar with the investigation tell "the associated press" that the gunman held in the shooting of