Tucson , Arizona ( CNN ) -- One week after being shot through the head , U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is off the ventilator and breathing on her own through a tracheotomy tube , the University Medical Center of Tucson , Arizona , said Saturday . Giffords , who authorities say was the target of a mass shooting by Jared Lee Loughner that left six dead and another 13 wounded , remains in critical condition . Still , in a statement , the southern Arizona hospital said that her recovery `` continues as planned . '' Another person wounded in the incident , 58-year-old James Tucker , was released from the hospital Saturday , according to the medical center . Two other victims are in good condition at the hospital , while others wounded had been treated and released earlier this week . The Giffords ' development is the latest milestone for a woman who was critically wounded after a bullet went into her skull , through her brain and then back out her skull . Doctors on Saturday morning replaced the breathing tube that ran down her throat with a tracheotomy tube in her windpipe . That procedure protects Giffords ' airway and allows her to breath independently for the first time since her first surgery after the shooting , the medical center said . A feeding tube was also inserted earlier Saturday into Giffords , to make it easier for her to get needed nutrients . The hospital said that such procedures are `` not uncommon '' among intensive care patients suffering serious brain injuries . Police say that a gunman -- who they claim is Loughner , a 22-year-old Tucson resident -- killed several others in a Safeway parking lot in Tucson while trying to assassinate Giffords , who was then holding a constituent meeting . A law enforcement source said Saturday that Loughner had photographed himself posing with a 9mm handgun while wearing a red G-string . It 's not clear when the photo was taken , but it was among those on a roll of 35 mm film that Loughner dropped off at a Walgreen 's store in the hours before the shooting rampage . The Safeway where the shooting ocurred reopened Saturday morning for the first time since the incident . Store officials made a public address announcement inviting those who were in the store to step outside for the observation shortly after 10 a.m. MT ( 12 p.m . ET ) . Some in the crowd approached flower-bedecked barricades marking the scene and placed flowers . One woman , comforted by another in a green Safeway store apron , sobbed as she attempted to place a lighted candle and a handmade card reading , `` God Loves You . '' A wreath was placed at the site to honor the victims , Safeway spokeswoman Susan Houghton said . Damage to the store has been completely repaired , she said . Dr. Michael Lemole , the hospital 's chief of neurosurgery , said Friday that Giffords is `` beginning to carry out a more complex sequence '' of activity . `` We 're confident ( Giffords ) is making progress now , '' he said . `` We could n't have hoped for anything better given the severity of ( her ) injury . '' In a Friday Twitter post , Giffords ' husband , NASA astronaut Mark Kelly , thanked his `` great followers '' for their support . `` GG has been improving each day , '' he said . Those killed in last Saturday 's attack included a 9-year-old girl , Christina Green ; Arizona 's chief federal judge , John Roll ; and Gabe Zimmerman , a Giffords staffer . Meanwhile , the investigation into the attack continued as authorities on Friday released a detailed timeline of Loughner 's activity in the hours before the shooting . A day earlier , they found a bag that is believed to belong to Loughner and contains the same kind of ammunition as was used in the massacre . DNA testing on the bag , which contained seven boxes of 9mm ammunition , could take up to 10 days before the results are determined , according to Pima County Sheriff 's Department Capt . Chris Nanos . CNN 's Alan Silverleib , Bill Mears , Ted Barrett , Steve Dolce , Susan Candiotti , Greg Morrison and Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
NEW : Giffords is off the ventilator and breathing on her own , the hospital opens . USA : Three people injured in shooting are still hospitalized , after the release of James Brown . The grocery store outside of which the shooting occurred reopened on Saturday .