Raw pictures: shooting scene of AZ Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

(NECN/CNN) - Developing news out of Tucson, Arizona: CNN has confirmed that Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has been shot.

Her press secretary says the Democrat is in surgery for her injuries. She was among at least 12 people who were shot outside a Safeway grocery store. A man working near the scene described what happened. 

"What I first heard, I heard about 15-20 gunshots in the parking lot, I came outside immediately, did not see vehicle or any people fleeing, just saw people running, screaming towards where shooting happened, everyone screaming that it was Gabrielle Giffords. I did see them take her away on a stretcher to the life-flight. She was moving with what I saw with my own eyes. Right now I just see a bunch of people leaving on stretchers ... and life-flights flying out of here at the moment," said " said Jason Pekau. "Yes, from what I am being told from people who had seen it, was she shot point blank in the head by the shooter. Then after that basically all chaos broke loose. There was some bullets that went through the window into the Safeway that I can see. How many were hurt, I have no idea."

The shooting happened just after 10 a.m. MST. 

Giffords was holding a meeting with constituents at the Safeway when the shots began.

Sources tell CNN a suspect is in custody.