Brody's Notes... Congresswoman Giffords Still Critical After Being Shot- Congressional Colleagues Discuss Ramifications Of Assassination Attempt

UPDATED @ 4PM EST January 9th, 2011: Federal Charges Levied Against Suspect

A criminal complaint filed in federal court this afternoon charges Loughner with one count of attempted assassination of a member of Congress, two counts of killing an employee of the United States and two counts of intent to kill employees of the United States.

During a search of Loughner's home, authorities found an envelope with handwriting that read "I planned ahead," and "My assassination" and the name "Giffords," as well as Loughner's signature.

Tucson Fire Department EMS personnel use a stretcher to carry Representative Gabrielle Giffords to a waiting helicopter.  Photo By James Palka

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) JAN 9 | Tucson Arizona's U. S. Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, remains in critical condition this morning as a joint investigative task force, made up of agents from the Federal Bureau Of Investigation and the Major Crimes Bureau of the Pima County Sheriff's office, continues to gather information and attempt to understand what motivated a 22 year old Tucson man's shooting rampage, that killed a Federal Judge, wounded the Congresswoman, and also killed 5 others. Authorities additionally sought the public's help in finding a possible accomplice who was still at large this morning.

In a press conference, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said the rampage ended only after two people tackled the gunman. His motivation was not immediately known, but Dupnik described him as mentally unstable and possibly acting with an accomplice.


UPDATE @ 2:45PM EST January 9th:
New York Times journalist Marc Lacey, reports the following about the second suspect in the Arizona shooting:

The Pima County sheriff said on Sunday that the search for a second person had ended. He said that a man seen in a security video shortly before the suspect shooter went on his spree had been found and interviewed and cleared of any involvement in the shootings.

Investigators said that the second man was a taxi driver who drove the suspected gunman to the scene. Upon arriving there, the passenger said he did not have change and he and the taxi driver went into the supermarket for change and the two then walked out together and separated.

Possible accomplice

Pima County Sheriff's Office

Investigators have told reporters said a man possibly associated with the suspect who was near the scene was being sought. The man, who was photographed by a security camera, was described as white with dark hair and 40-50 years old.
A security camera image taken from the Safeway store's surveillance video just prior to the rampage shows an individual the Pima County Arizona Sheriff's department is trying to identify that was seen at the location of Saturday's attack.

Doctors say that 
Congresswoman Giffords is able to respond to simple commands

At a televised news conference in Tucson, Dr. Michael Lemole, a surgeon at the University Medical Center in Tucson, said Giffords had responded to doctors' commands. In great detail, he described how the gunshot went through the left side of the congresswoman's head and how doctors worked to remove bone fragments to help reduce the swelling and possible damage to the brain.


Reverberations
The assassination attempt left has left many Americans questioning whether divisive politics had pushed the suspect over the edge.
This morning on the NBC News programme, Meet The Press, anchor David Gregory discussed the reverberations of Saturday’s shooting of the Congresswoman with some of her colleagues: