First, let me express my condolences to the families and friends of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Judge John Roll, and the other victims of this senseless tragedy.

This was an attack not only against dedicated public servants, but against our fellow citizens…one being a child who was there to learn more about how our government works…and other members of the community who were meeting with their elected officials for the first time, or who were simply running errands on what otherwise would have been an ordinary weekend. This was an attack on our institutions and our way of life.

As you know, Jared Lee Loughner was subdued by brave, quick-thinking individuals at the scene. He was taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies and is now in federal custody. Formal charges are expected this afternoon.

Federal agents and deputy sheriffs are working around the clock to learn as much as possible, gather the facts, and determine why someone would commit such a heinous act and whether anyone else was involved.

While we do not yet have all of the answers to the questions, I can assure you that teams of professionals are working toward a single goal: to piece together the facts, answer those questions, and ensure justice is served.

We are working closely with the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Capitol Police, and others in this ongoing investigation. 

Given this tragedy, all logical precautions are in place to best ensure the safety of other public officials—but there is no information at this time to suggest any specific threat remains.

For those on the ground and for all of us, the work goes on, and we will continue to dedicate all necessary resources at every level to this investigation—to do everything we can to ensure that our elected officials and the citizens we serve are safe.