Here’s a statement from Rebekah Friend, executive director and secretary/treasurer of the Arizona AFL-CIO, about today’s tragedy in Tuscon, Ariz., in which a gunman shot Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the head as she met outside a grocery store with constituents. The gunman, who is in custody, also allegedly shot and killed Chief Judge John Roll of the U.S. District Court for Arizona and an unidentified nine-year-old girl.

The shooting of Congresswoman Giffords, her staff members and others in Tucson this morning comes as a terrible shock. Congresswoman Giffords has always been a dedicated servant to the working families of her community, and it is heartbreaking to hear that she was shot as she was meeting with her constituents to listen to their concerns. This senseless attack on a leader like Congresswoman Giffords and working Arizonans has no place in a democratic society like ours.

From reports I have received from United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin, it appears that no Safeway grocery store workers represented by UFCW 99 were hurt in the shooting.

Today, I and other leaders in the labor movement are asking union members and all Arizonans to keep Congresswoman Giffords, the other victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.