Tucson downtown shooting hospitalizes ten, sparks partisan debate on gun policy
A shooting near 6th Avenue and Congress Street in downtown Tucson left ten people, including the suspect, in hospital and prompted Democratic calls for stricter gun laws and Republican emphasis on self-defense rights.
A gunfight broke out around 2 a.m. on Sunday in downtown Tucson, near 6th Avenue and Congress Street, injuring ten people who were taken to hospitals, including the suspect. Authorities said the incident began as a confrontation between two acquainted groups.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said victim advocates were dispatched to the hospitals and expressed hope that the nine non-suspect victims would survive. The suspect’s identity has not been released.
Mayor Regina Romero condemned the attack on social media, offering prayers for the victims and gratitude to first responders. Former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, a 2011 shooting survivor, issued a statement through her gun-violence prevention organization, expressing sympathy for the injured and urging Arizona lawmakers to tighten gun regulations. Assistant House Democratic Leader Nancy Gutierrez described the event as a reminder of gun violence as a public-health crisis.
Senate President Warren Petersen, speaking for the Republican caucus, reiterated support for the constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense and thanked law-enforcement personnel. Other officials, including Senator Ruben Gallego and Attorney Conover, also praised the rapid response of Tucson police and hospital staff for saving lives.