From Pima County Sheriff’s Department:
Shooting – Update
January 9, 2011
There has been several new developments reference the shooting that occurred January 8, 2011. The person of interest who was being sought by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department was located during the morning of January 9, 2011. He was identified as a cab driver who drove the suspect to the location dropping him off at 9:59 a.m. The surveillance video showed the cab driver and the suspect entering the Safeway together. The cab driver explained the suspect needed to get change to pay the fare. The investigators are satisfied with the explanation provided by the cab driver.
There have been reports of a female and two males who tackled the suspect. Ms. Patricia Maisch was at the event, in the rear of the line, waiting to take a photograph with Congresswoman Giffords when the suspect began shooting. When the suspect tried to load a fresh magazine into his weapon, Ms. Maisch was able to grab the bottom of the magazine and prevent it from being inserted. This pause in shooting allowed for two men, Roger Salzgeber and Bill D. Badger, to tackle the suspect to the ground and restrain him until deputies arrived. An additional male, Joseph Zamudio, also assisted in restraining the suspect’s legs. Initial information reported Ms. Maisch was injured during the event. This information was inaccurate and she did not report having any injuries.
The timeline of the event regarding the first response by law enforcement and medical personnel is as follows:
10:11:56 a.m. – First 911 call is received
10:15 a.m. – First deputy arrives on scene
10:16 a.m. – First medical personnel arrive on scene
Within one minute of the first deputy’s arrival, the suspect was in custody and medical personnel began treating the injured.