Bill Badger, a retired Army National Guard colonel who became one of the heroes in the Jan. 8 shooting spree, has died.
Several reports say the 78-year-old died today of complications from pneumonia.
Badger was one of the many people who went to Safeway north of Tucson in 2011 to meet then U.S Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at an event she was holding to meet constituents.
A bullet grazed his head when Jared Loughner opened fire.
In minutes, 6 people were dead and 13 were wounded.
During a pause in the gunfire Badger, along with survivor Roger Salzgeber, sprung to action and helped tackle Loughner.
Though his recollection was a bit blurry later in January 2011, Salzgeber told the Star, her remembered colliding with Badger as they took down the shooter.
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"The shooter resisted, and Salzgeber tightened his grip. Badger, whose head was bleeding from a bullet graze, told Salzgeber to loosen up a little bit and let the shooter breathe." the 2011 news story says.
Giffords issued a statement Wednesday.
"I’m so sad to learn that Bill Badger has passed away. Bill was not only a great man and a proud Army veteran, he was a hero," Giffords said in her statement.
"On January 8, 2011, Bill was wounded in the head by a bullet from the gun of my would-be assassin. Not even pausing to realize he had been injured, Bill ran towards the shooter and towards danger so that he could help subdue him until the authorities arrived. I believe that Bill helped save lives that morning. And I will always be grateful to him for his selfless, brave actions."
“My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with Bill’s loved ones as they mourn the loss of a great man.”
At an anti-gun violence event in March 2013, Badger choked up when he recounted the mass shooting. "When this was all over, there were 13 victims that were shot ... we vowed to get something done so this never happened again," Badger said.
