On January 8 , 2011 Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in an assassination attempt . Having been critically wounded after suffering a single gunshot wound to the head , she and many of the other 18 wounded individuals were promptly evacuated by helicopter to this facility . Giffords underwent emergency surgery to save her life and many attribute her survival to the swift actions of the university 's doctors . After her condition improved , doctors deemed her safe to travel so that she could begin speech , physical , and occupational therapy . Giffords was flown by plane to Houston 's Memorial Hermann Medical Center on January 21 , 2011 to continue therapy . In total , 6 people died in the shooting , including federal District Court Chief Judge John Roll ; Gabe Zimmerman , one of Rep. Giffords ' staffers ; and a nine-year-old girl , Christina-Taylor Green
assassination attempt
2011 Tucson shooting
Banner University Medical Center Tucson