Photo shows Giffords morning of shooting rampage
By AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press
Mar 4, 2011 6:55 PM CST
This Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 photo provided by the office of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, shows the Arizona congresswoman listening intently as she talks with two of her constituents, one of whom also was injured, in Tucson, Ariz. Shortly after the photo was taken, a man walked quickly up to the group and...   (Associated Press)

A photo taken of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords shortly before a shooting rampage erupted in Tucson shows the congresswoman listening intently as she talks with two of her constituents, one of whom also was injured.

Giffords is wearing a bright red coat and bold red necklace, and has her hands clasped in front of her as she speaks to Jim and Doris Tucker of Tucson. Shortly after it was taken, a man walked quickly up to the group, shot Giffords in the head and then shot 18 others at the "Congress on Your Corner" event.

Six were killed in the Jan. 8 attack, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl, and 13 more were injured, including Giffords.

Giffords' staff posted the photo Friday on Facebook, and it is the first and only photo the staff has released from that day. The photo led many fans of Giffords' Facebook page to comment on it.

One person wrote, "What a haunting picture." Another wrote, "It is just so sad to know what is about to happen ..."

Jim Tucker was one of the 18 people who was shot and survived the attack. A message left at his home wasn't immediately returned Friday evening.

Giffords spokesman C.J. Karamargin said Giffords held 20 Congress on Your Corner events, and constituents typically spoke with her individually.

"The way it worked was people had the chance to speak to the congresswoman one-on-one about any topic, and that's what was going on when that photo was taken," he said

Federal prosecutors on Friday announced new charges against suspect Jared Lee Loughner, saying the 49-count indictment covered the shooting of all 19 victims, since they were participating in a federally provided activity _ meeting their member of Congress.

Giffords is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head at a Houston hospital, where she has been undergoing extensive therapy.

In recent days, Giffords has been talking and singing some of her favorite songs as part of her speech and musical therapy. She also is undergoing physical therapy.