Arizona Shooting Victim Had Ties to Philadelphia

As shocking as the news out of Arizona was yesterday, Philadelphians got another shock when they learned that Christina Green, the nine-year-old killed in the rampage, was the granddaughter of former Phillies pitcher and manager Dallas Green. Dallas Green was the manager of the Phillies from 1979-1981, leading them to the World Series title in 1980. Christina is the daughter of John Green, Dallas Green's son, the Los Angeles Dodgers' East Coast supervisor of amateur scouting.

A student at Mesa Verde Elementary School, her father said Christina had become interested in politics at an early age, and had recently been elected to her school's student council. She went to the event with a neighbor to meet Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and learn more about politics. Ironically, Christina was born on September 11, 2001, and was featured in the book "Faces of Hope: Babies Born on 9/11."

Congresswoman Giffords was shot in the head, six other people killed and at least a dozen others were injured when 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at supermarket where Ms. Giffords was holding a public meeting with constituents. Giffords and her district director were Loughner's main targets. After shooting them, he then started firing indiscriminately at other staffers and people waiting in line to talk to Giffords.

On Sunday morning, Christina's mother, Roxanna Green, told MSNBC, "I just want her memory to live on, she's a face of hope, a face of change," she said. "Stop the violence, stop the hatred." Family members called Christina "very sweet and excited about life." According to her uncle Greg Segalini, she was involved in baseball, ballet, horseback riding and swimming, and the Arizona Daily Star reported that she was the only girl on her baseball team, the Canyon del Oro Little League "Pirates."

Phillies team president David Montgomery released a statement on the tragedy. "The Phillies organization expresses our heartfelt condolences to Dallas and Sylvia and the entire Green family on the senseless, tragic loss of Christina's life. She was a talented young girl with a bright promising future. Her untimely death weighs heavily on our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by yesterday's horrific shooting."

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt also released a statement, saying, "We lost a member of the Dodgers family today. The entire Dodgers organization is mourning the death of John's daughter Christina, and will do everything we can to support John, his wife Roxana and their son Dallas in the aftermath of this senseless tragedy. I spoke with John earlier today and expressed condolences on behalf of the entire Dodgers organization."

Loughner was reportedly wrestled to the ground by two bystanders, and arrested. While his motive is still unknown, acquaintances called him a loner. His Facebook page was taken down when his identity was released, on which he had said goodbye to his readers, and asked them "not to be mad at me. " He had also posted rambling text videos on YouTube, discussing his invention of a new currency and voicing his distrust of the government.

Another man, caught on video at the scene of the shootings, is being sought in the shootings. The Pima County Sheriff's office described him as dark haired and between 40 and 50 years old, last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark blue jacket.

Also killed in the attack were
- U.S. District Judge John Roll, 63, nominated to the federal bench in 1991, the chief judge of the district of Arizona since 2006.
- Gabe Zimmerman, 30, Giffords' director of community outreach, who was recently engaged to be married.
- Dorwin Stoddard, 76, a pastor at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ, who reportedly threw his body over his wife Mavy during the shootings. Mavy suffered three gunshot wounds to her legs and is in stable condition.
- Dorothy Morris, 76.
- Phyllis Scheck, 79.

Sources: ABClocal.com; ktla.com; MSNBC; KIDK.com; ChristianChronical.com