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Sheriff: Three People Subdued Jared Loughner

Updated at 9:01 p.m. ET

TUCSON, Ariz. - Three people helped subdue a gunman accused of attempting to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killing six people at a political event in Arizona.

Pima Co. Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says Patricia Maisch, 61, was waiting in line with her husband to get a photo with Giffords. When the shooting started, she ran up to the suspect and grabbed the empty magazine, then grabbed a full magazine as he was loading it into the gun.

Two men helped subdue the suspect; Roger Sulzgeber, who was also in line, and Joseph Zimudie, who was at a nearby Walgreens and heard the shooting.

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"We could have had 31 more people shot," Dupnik said.

Sulberger and Zimudie tackled the suspect after the shooting started.

The shooter reached for a magazine as he struggled with the men, Maisch said.

"Somebody said 'Get the magazine!' so I got the magazine, and I was able to secure that," Maisch said. "That's what needed to be done."

Maisch said Badger and Sulzgeber both sat on the gunman while she held his ankles down, ABC News reports. Police said that Zimudie helped by hanging on to the suspect's legs.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Jared Loughner.

Giffords was shot in the head and an aide was killed Saturday when Loughner allegedly opened fire in an area where the lawmaker was meeting with constituents.

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The shooting rampage claimed six lives, including a 9-year-old child and U.S. District Judge John Roll, officials said. Thirteen more were wounded at the scene, including Giffords. Five were listed in critical condition and five were in serious condition.

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