Amazingly, a video exists of the Tucson shootings, taken by a store security camera. It shows, among other things, that Judge Roll appears to have died trying to protect a fellow victim named Ronald Barber, who was on Giffords’ staff:
Describing the video, Mr. Kastigar [of the Pima County Sheriff's Department] said the judge was “intentionally trying to help Mr. Barber,” adding, “It’s very clear to me the judge was thinking of his fellow human more than himself.”
The judge guides Mr. Barber to the ground, shields him with his body, and then tries to push himself and Mr. Barber away from the gunman, who was no more than three to four feet away as he fired, Mr. Kastigar said.
“He pushes Mr. Barber with his right hand and guides him with his left hand. The judge was on top of him and is covering up Mr. Barber, literally lying on top of him, and his back was exposed,” Mr. Kastigar said.
The judge was shot in the back.
Ronald Barber was shot twice but is alive and has been released from the hospital.
This statement from Barber’s family, issued before the news on Roll’s heroism was released, gives a clue as to an extra motive the judge may have had for his actions [emphasis mine]:
We would like to express our deepest sympathies to the families who lost love ones on Saturday. Dad [Mr. Barber] is so deeply saddened by the loss of his friend and fellow staff member Gabe Zimmerman and his long time friend Chief Judge John Roll.
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
January 20th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Cannot read that without a lump in my throat and the screen inexplicably blurring.
May God bless and keep Judge John Roll.
January 21st, 2011 at 1:10 am
May God rest his soul and comfort his family.
January 21st, 2011 at 2:03 pm
You’ve got to see this; Kalimba Magic newsletter . I’m sorry to mess up a post about a truly heroic man, but this is a large part of the problem, this viewpoint that somehow only the right stirs up hatred. Note the paragraph
“I saw the humiliating and nasty billboards against Gabrielle Giffords during the election season last year. I’ve heard the politicians say “I’m gonna take him out.” I’ve seen the graphics with Democrats, including moderate Gabrielle Giffords, in the cross hairs of a gun sight. I’ve read of the nasty hosts and commentators on Fox News joking about the assassination of Democrats, including our president. NPR talk show hosts don’t joke about killing politicians. I don’t remember anyone joking about killing president Bush. In my mind, these are things that should not be said or done.
By and large, these nasty techniques worked for the Republicans – they fired people up, and the Republicans won the election.”
By and large, I think most of us are tired of the nastiness from both parties. But we cannot allow the Left to be blind to the hatred spewing from their own side, which had far more to do with the shooters state of mind than anything else.
January 21st, 2011 at 5:38 pm
When I hear the continued reports of the heroism of Congresswoman Gifford, I hate the urgently pursued ignorance the media has for the redoubtable Judge Roll.
His death was a great loss for our Republic.
January 21st, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Odds are 99-to-1 that the Kalimba Magic Newsletter guy has heard lots of liberal invective about killing Bush and Palin and Limbaugh and various others. He may even have said some himself. But he doesn’t remember them as hateful, because violent hatred directed at the right is an expression of love.
I’ve spent endless hours in the company of liberals, and one thing I’ve noticed is how routinely, casually, and endlessly they spew hatred at anybody who is not sufficiently far to the left. And in spite of this, they see no contradiction with their self-image as kind, loving, caring, tolerant, peaceful people.
(A new call for civility? No thanks. Why should I kow-tow to these intolerant and power-mad kooks?)
January 22nd, 2011 at 4:06 am
Judge Roll’s death is neglected because he’s a heroic Republican.
Doesn’t fit their Narrative; doesn’t help them demonize us.
January 30th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Hi, I’m Mark the Kalimba Magic guy.
Perhaps I live in a bubble, but my main source of news is NPR, and they just don’t joke about killing people, Obama or Bush. When I drive across country I get to listen to AM Talk radio and so I have also heard the right side of the media.
AND to be fair to me, I did name Keith Olberman in the article as someone on the left who is over the line. I’ve seen him on the web, and while he is filled with hate for the right, I haven’t seen him joke about killing anyone, but I am not an expert on this guy.
Thanks for posting my newsletter article.
-mark