Tucson shooting rampage hero Bill Badger, 78, dies

PHOENIX — An Army veteran who ignored his injuries to tackle a gunman during the Tucson shooting rampage has died.

Bill Badger, 78, died Wednesday in Tucson of complications from pneumonia, four years after he was shot in the head at a meet-and-greet featuring then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who was nearly killed.

Saddened by the passing of Bill Badger, a great man & hero who ran towards danger on Jan. 8, 2011. http://t.co/IKyNWcnXSm

— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) March 11, 2015

A half-dozen people were killed and 13 hurt in a grocery store parking lot Jan. 8, 2011 in Tucson.

Badger and others managed to disarm Jared Loughner, who would be sentenced to life in prison. Badger has been credited with saving lives that day.

“I believe that Bill helped save lives that morning. And I will always be grateful to him for his selfless, brave actions,” Gifford said in statement posted to her Facebook page.

Giffords resigned from Congress a year after the shooting.

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