Tucson shooting victim detained at taping of TV special
Yells, "You're dead," while photographing Tea Party spokesman
News Services / MSNBC.com / January 16, 2011
A Tucson mass shooting victim was taken into custody Saturday after yelling "you're dead" at a Tea Party spokesman during the taping of an ABC-TV town hall event hosted by Christianne Amanpour.
The Pima County Sheriff's Office said J. Eric Fuller, 63, was involuntarily committed to an undisclosed medical facility, NBC News reported. The Associated Press said he was undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.
He faces charges of threats and intimidation and disorderly conduct, according to Tucson TV station KGUN.
The gathering for "After the Tragedy: An American Conversation Continued," to be shown as a special edition of "This Week" Sunday, included witnesses, first responders, victims and heroes of the Jan. 8 mass shooting that killed six and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.
Local officials and others also packed St. Odilia's Catholic Church in northwest Tucson, where the show was taped.
KGUN reported that Fuller took exception to comments by Republican state Rep. Terri Proud and Tucson Tea Party spokesman Trent Humphries.
Fuller was in the front row and apparently became upset when Humphries suggested that any conversations about gun control should be delayed until all the dead were buried, KGUN reported.
Fuller took a picture of Humphries and shouted, "You're dead."
Some media reports said Fuller kept booing and making other remarks before deputies escorted him from the church.
Also at the church were Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and former Rep. Jim Kolbe.
If Humphries decides not to press charges, the charges will be dropped, Pima Deputy Jason Ogan told Phoenix station KNXV.
The hospital will determine when he will be released, Ogan said.
Fuller reportedly felt a bullet hit his knee Jan. 8, but didn't know he had also been struck in the back. The Arizona Daily Star reported, Fuller, a naval air veteran, drove himself to Northwest Hospital after being shot. He was later taken to University Medical Center where he was released two days later.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
