Heroic Woman Charged Jared Loughner, Averting 'Huge Greater Catastrophe'

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Pima County, Ariz., Sheriff Clarence Dupnik offered more details on how suspected Arizona shooter Jared Loughner was disarmed.

Dupnik said that when Loughner ran out of bullets in his first magazine clip, a woman who had already been shot "went up and grabbed" the new magazine "and tore it away from him." Dupnik said the name of the woman was known but he did not share it during the press conference.

After the confrontation with the woman, Loughner was able to load another magazine into his weapon, but "the spring in the magazine failed," Dupnik said, and two men were able to get his weapon away from him and subdue him until law enforcement arrived.

Dupnik said the work of these three people potentially averted a "huge greater catastrophe."

Drew Westen

Professor, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Emory University

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Gun Violence and the Lessons of Tucson: Will the Chambers Once Again Be Loaded Against the American People?

Saturday was not the first time Gabby Giffords -- or countless other lawmakers, candidates, and elected officials, including President Obama -- was confronted at a campaign rally or town hall meeting by gun-toting bullies, whose primary goal (at least until this weekend) was intimidation. That bringing a concealed weapon within that proximity to an elected official could be legal in the world's longest-lasting democracy is both surreal and shameful -- and now it threatens that democracy.

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ThomasMc said on 9 Sunday 2011 pm31 3:21 pm: True American heroes, exactly the OPPOSITE of those who's hateful rhetoric no doubt contributed to this awful tragedy.

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Comments

[voyager48]

01:52 PM on 01/12/2011

Absolute kudos to her for the presence of mind and sheer guts of stepping up and doing something about the mess. She is up there with the passengers on Flight 93 on 9/11.

Shame on Dupnick for jumping in the deep end - he of anyone was in possession of whatever facts were available but the moment he got in the spotlight, he chose to launch into a personal commentary commentary pre-supposing the cause, which was absolutely not what he was there for, and to me thoroughly unprofessional grandstanding to further his own plotical views. You decide - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlkjtwJUBCA

[monroele]

01:43 PM on 01/12/2011

Also in that TV show "What would you do" always women are the most courageous and take action. All these men running in gun stores to protect and defend obviously just stand by.
I have never heard of a situation where an armed bystander was any good to the situation.

[collettethehedgehog]

12:00 PM on 01/12/2011

Interesting on this thread nobody is concerned with her politics, but since she was was a supporter of Giffords it can be assumed she was to the left of say Sara Palin. If the shoe was on the other foot it would be sold as proof conservative values produce brave, noble, patriotic, fearless, pure, church-going heros.

[Chel Ramsey]

11:20 AM on 01/12/2011

In a time when many of us stand around waiting for someone else to take the risk, to take action, thank you God for those that are willing to be that someone else.

[patililac]

05:07 AM on 01/11/2011

Very interesting that the hero of the day did not draw a gun. No one, even those who HAD guns, drew them. It shows, perhaps, that there may not be time to do so or may not be a clear view of the suspect, therefore making the reasoning that we need guns to protect ourselves just a little less valid. I am not saying we don't have the right to have guns, but that many times it is not the weapon that saves the day.

[amaboss52]

07:25 PM on 01/10/2011

Of course it was an unarmed woman, who else would have the guts, no one that was packing thats for sure. Good for you lady, many thanks and prayers for a quick recovery.

[FR]

12:36 PM on 01/12/2011

Exactly. Well-thought and well-said!!

[Charles L King]

06:50 PM on 01/10/2011

Hamlet said, "How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds make deeds ill done."

[John Smith123]

04:51 PM on 01/10/2011

Arizona killer Jared Lee Loughner Did Not Act Alone.

There is evidence that another man drove the killer with the gun to the shopping center.

Listen to the facts and touching statement from the local Pima county sheriff Clarence Dupnik. Hopefully more ordinary Arizonans and Americans should watch the following video.

http://vod­pod.com/wa­tch/530449­4-jared-le­e-loughner­-did-not-a­ct-alone

[Minkz45]

12:12 PM on 01/12/2011

it was a cab driver and the already cleared that guy..

[sarabee1321]

12:21 PM on 01/12/2011

You might be the only person who doesn't know the police have cleared the man who drove the killer to the shopping center. He was a taxi driver who took a fare where he wanted to go.

I know we like to spread blame around, but can we really blame cab drivers for what their passengers do?

[isleptwithjoeyramone]

04:21 PM on 01/10/2011

It's a shame that it took a senseless tragedy such as this to show us that there are still good, compassionate people in this world who are looking out for their fellow man, who are stepping up and doing the right thing.

[healthcarenow]

04:09 PM on 01/10/2011

Gov. Brewer totally missed " a teachable moment" in her address (just completed in

[cocodash]

03:46 PM on 01/10/2011

Ms. Maisch, I salute you. You're a true hero. Stay strong.

[mutton]

03:33 PM on 01/10/2011

Patricia Maisch and the other people who stopped Loughner are to be commended, but she's been on the news refuting Dupnik's version of the story. I have to say that having watched Dupnik sensationalize a lot of this story and get certain facts completely wrong, I've actually lost some respect for the man. Here's perhaps a more accurate statement of what happened:
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c4e24098-1504-5767-901e-6c832300b961.html

[TggerJen]

02:07 PM on 01/12/2011

You're exactly right, and he certainly had better access to the facts than most others. YIKES! The woman was interviewed and her account was very different from the story he's telling.

[Balzac]

03:25 PM on 01/10/2011

Thank goodness Patricia Maisch stopped him from reloading.

[sippewissett]

03:11 PM on 01/10/2011

That unnamed woman was a hero. She saved more lives. We should all thank her.

[greengirl208]

12:48 PM on 01/12/2011

Bob Badger and Joe Zamudia were the ones who tackled him and subdued him. All she did was reach for the magazine.

[ttowse]

12:06 PM on 01/17/2011

What this woman did speaks so loud, I cannot hear the men in the room.

[obama20082012]

02:44 PM on 01/10/2011

A real American hero! She is an example of an exceptional human being.