The Washington Post sends a terribly and terrifying piece of breaking news by email:

Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot on Saturday morning while hosting an event outside of a Tucson grocery store, according to local news reports. National Public Radio reported Saturday that Giffords, who in November narrowly won re-election to a third term, was hosting her first "Congress on Your Corner" event when a gunman ran up and began shooting. According to a local news report, Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range. She was taken to University Medical Center in Tucscon; her condition was not immediately known.

A dozen or so others were apparently shot as well -- details are still sketchy at this moment.