UPDATED: Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot; Federal Judge John Roll Killed

Reports are coming in that Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) was shot in the head, her aide was killed, and several other people were wounded outside of a grocery store in Tuscon, AZ. Giffords was hosting a meeting with constituents at the supermarket at the time. NBC News is just reporting that federal judge John M. Roll was murdered as well.

In March 2010, Rep. Gifford's Tuscon office was vandalized, although it is unclear if the vandalism was related to today's shooting in any way.

UPDATE #1: Also, Dr. Peter Rhee at University Medical Center in Tuscon stated during a press conference that Giffords had undergone brain surgery and is currently in critical condition. He also stated that a nine year-old girl was among the five dead from today's shooting.

UPDATE #2: The suspect in custody has been identified as 22 year-old Jared Lee Loughner. In a video he posted on YouTube in December 2010, Loughner makes rambling statements about literacy, currency, and dreaming that make little sense. However, at the 3:07 mark, he writes the following:

"The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's Constitution. You don't have to accept the federalist laws. Nonetheless, read the United States of America's Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws."

At the 3:32 mark, Loughner adds the following:

". . . The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar. No! I won't pay debt with a currency that's not backed by gold and silver! No! I won't trust in God!"

Given Laughner's refusal to acknowledge the authority of federal law and call for the U.S. to return to the gold standard, I seriously wonder if he has anything to do with the Sovereign Citizens movement. This has yet to be confirmed, however.

Read the Fall 2010 issue of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report for more information on the Sovereign Citizens movement. The Anti-Defamation League also published an article on this dangerous movement.

CNN: 6 Dead, 18 Injured in Shooting at Arizona Political Meeting; Suspect in Custody

BBC News: U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot in Arizona

MSNBC: Congresswoman Giffords, Others Shot in Arizona