19 total shot in Saturday rampage: Sheriff's Dep't updates number

Posted Jan 11, 2011

Dylan Smith
TucsonSentinel.com

Nineteen people were hit in the mass shooting Saturday on Tucson's Northwest Side, said a spokesman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday.

The shooting left 6 dead and 13 wounded, said Deputy Jason Ogan.

Authorities have variously put the total number shot at 16, 18, 20 and now 19.

"There have been discrepancies" concerning the number of people hit in the shooting rampage that authorities say targeted Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Ogan said.

"Please remember that this is an ongoing investigation involving multiple victims and witnesses. The Pima County Sheriff's Department will make every effort to release information in a timely fashion that will not jeopardize the case," he said in a news release.

"To clarify, 19 people were shot, 6 of whom succumbed to their injuries. There were other minor injuries as a result of people trying to flee from the scene," he said.

The weapon used by accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner was a Glock 19, Ogan said. He said the gun had an extended magazine that holds 31 rounds.

"Loughner had an additional extended magazine and two standard magazines in his possession. A total of 31 spent rounds were recovered from the scene," Ogan said.

Most Glock high-capacity extended magazines on the market hold 30 rounds, but the shooter may have had one round in the gun's chamber.

Smaller standard magazines can hold 10, 15 or 17 rounds.

Loughner, 22, made an initial appearance in a Phoenix court Monday.

Loughner faces five federal charges in the killings of U.S. District Court Judge John M. Roll and Gabriel Zimmerman, a member of Giffords' staff; and attempting to kill Giffords and two other staffers: Ron Barber and Pamela Simon.

Giffords was the target of the shooting, authorities said.

Additional state charges are likely in the shootings of the other victims, authorities said.