Hospital: Giffords' condition upgraded to serious

The condition of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was upgraded from critical to serious on Sunday, the hospital said, a day after she was freed from a ventilator.

University Medical Center in Tucson said Giffords is continuing to 'do well' and is breathing on her own, allowing her status to be upgraded to serious. On Saturday morning, a tracheotomy was performed on Giffords to replace the breathing tube which had been running down her throat with a tracheotomy tube in her windpipe, protecting her airway and freeing her from the ventilator. 

Hospital: Giffords' condition upgraded to serious

The condition of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was upgraded from critical to serious on Sunday, the hospital said.The upgrade came a day after Giffords had a surgical procedure which freed her from a ventilator. "The Congresswoman continues to do well. She is breathing on her own. Yesterday's procedures were successful and uneventful," the hospital said on Sunday.

Copyright 2010 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved.

U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS' CONDITION UPGRADED TO SERIOUS - HOSPITAL

The condition of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has been upgraded to serious from critical, hospital says.

Copyright 2010 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved.

U.S. Congresswoman Giffords taken off ventilator following procedure, remains critical

A surgical procedure has been carried out on U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords which has freed her from a ventilator, the hospital said on Saturday.

University Medical Center in Tucson said the tracheotomy was performed on Saturday morning to replace the breathing tube which had been running down her throat with a tracheotomy tube in her windpipe, protecting her airway and freeing her from the ventilator. In addition, surgeons have inserted a feeding tube to provide nutritional support.

"These procedures are not uncommon among brain-injured patients in the Intensive Care Unit," a hospital spokesperson said, adding that Giffords remains in a critical condition while her recovery continues "as planned."

Charges filed against the Tuscon gunman

Prosecutors on Sunday filed a federal complaint against Jared Lee Loughner, charging him with the attempted assassination of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday.

The shooting happened at about 10.11 a.m. MST at a supermarket in northwest Tucson on Saturday where Giffords was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" of the year. Loughner, 22, opened fire, killing six people and injuring 13 others.

Six dead, U.S. Congresswoman Giffords among at least 12 injured in Az. shooting

At least six people were killed and U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was among twelve people injured on Saturday morning when a gunman opened fire at a public event in Tucson, Arizona, officials said.

The shooting happened just after 10 a.m. MST at a supermarket in northwest Tucson where Giffords was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" of the year. "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now," Giffords tweeted just before the shooting. "Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later."

According to local officials, a 21-year-old man identified as Jared Laughner walked up to Giffords and shot her in the head before turning the gun on others at the event. The Pima County Sheriff's Department said a total of 18 people were shot, six of them fatally.

Statement by President Obama on Arizona mass shooting

Barack Obama on Saturday released the following statement after U.S. Congresswoman Giffords and others were shot outside a supermarket in Arizona.

"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tuscon, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded.

"We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."

U.S. Congresswoman Giffords critically injured in Arizona mass shooting

U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was seriously injured on Saturday when a gunman opened fire at a public event in Tucson, Arizona, officials said. Several others were killed and injured.

The shooting happened just after 10 a.m. MST at a supermarket in northwest Tucson where Giffords was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" of the year. "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now," Giffords tweeted just before the shooting. "Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later."

According to local officials, a 21-year-old gunman walked up to Giffords and shot her in the head, seriously injuring her. The gunman, who was later arrested, also shot numerous other people.