Rep. Giffords, Several Others Shot at Safeway in Northwest Tucson

Photo Courtesy - Getty Images(TUCSON, Ariz.) -- Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range Saturday outside a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store where she was holding a campaign event, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

Giffords was among as many as 11 people reportedly wounded in the shooting, and according to Congressional sources, several people on the Democrat's staff were among the wounded.

She was taken to University Medical Center, where a hospital spokesman confirmed she was alive. But the extent and seriousness of her injuries were not being released.

A law enforcement source told ABC affiliate KGUN-TV in Tucson that the shooter was in custody.

Giffords, a Democrat, was holding a "Congress on Your Corner" event at a Safeway supermarket in northwest Tucson.

Story developing...

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

BB Gun Killed Bats on Tucson's East Side, Officials Say

(TUCSON, Ariz.) -- The Arizona Game and Fish Department announced Friday that 80 bats killed under a bridge on the city's east side were shot with a BB gun.

The bats were found under the Speedway bridge on Monday, December 27th.

The Game and Fish department says tests taken at a state lab in Phoenix showed that the bats had been shot with a 4 millimeter BB gun.

The Game and Fish Operation Game Thief Program is offering a $750 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone with information can call 1-800-352-0700.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Despite Promise of New Jobs, Residents Raise Concern over Mining

(PATAGONIA, Ariz.) -- A Canadian mining company wants to bring 300 new jobs and open a silver mine in southwestern Arizona. Local residents are skeptical of the plans and voiced their concerns at a meeting Wednesday night.

Over 50 people showed up to complain about the construction planned by the Wildcat Silver Coropration, according to a report in the Arizona Daily Star.

Wildcat Silver is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. According to its website, it seeks to, "manage our natural resources carefully and strive to minimize our footprint (and) ensure the safety and environmental wellbeing of the communities in which we operate is at the forefront of our planning and performance."

The report says residents of Patagonia were concerned with the number of vehicles Wildcat Silver would use, how much noise the operation would make and how much natrual land would be disturbed.

Wildcat Silver must still get state and federal approval to work on the proposed site.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Sheriff Fires Dubiously Heroic Deputy

(FLORENCE, Ariz.) -- Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu has fired a deputy for allegedly intimidating a reporter.

Deputy Louie Puroll achieved near heroic status in Pinal County after being shot by bandits last April, according to KGUN-TV, ABC's Tucson affiliate. Puroll was even rewarded a medal for the incident. The case, however, was re-examined when a Phoenix New Times reporter questioned whether Puroll had fabricated the whole episode. This apparently prompted Puroll to behave inappropriately with the reporter, saying off the record that he could have arranged to have her assassinated.

KGUN reports that Sheriff Babeu had grown to dismiss Puroll's heroism in the light of his recent behavior, which resulted in his suspension.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Reward Offered for Info on Mule Deer Beheading

(TUCSON, Ariz.) -- The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a $1,250 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who beheaded a mule deer buck. The buck was found Tuesday afternoon west of the Desert Museum.

Officials from the GFD say the issue is that the decapitation is poaching, which is illegal, and not hunting.

Although numbers have not been released for 2010 yet, Game and Fish violations in 2009 rose 70 percent from 2008.

Anyone with information can report anonymously to operation Game Thief at 1-800-352-0700. Use reference: OGT #11-000010.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio