Obama Leads Moment Of Silence For Tuscon Tragedy

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has presided over a national moment of silence for severely injured Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the people who were killed during an assassination attempt against her.

On the White House South Lawn, Obama was joined by first lady Michelle Obama and White House staff members on a cold morning.

The moment was marked at the U.S. Capitol and elsewhere around a nation still coming to grips with the tragedy.

Giffords is in intensive care at a Tuscon hospital after being shot in the head at close range. Among the five others killed were Arizona’s chief federal judge, a 9-year-old girl and one of Giffords’ aides.

Prosecutors have charged a 22-year-old Jared Loughner on a series of counts, including attempted assassination of a member of Congress.

RELATED STORIES

GOP’s Embrace Of Violence: “Chickens Coming Home To Roost”

Conservatives Slam AZ Sheriff For “Mecca Of Bigotry” Comments