Girl was granddaughter of ex-Cubs GM
PHILADELPHIA — The 9-year-old girl killed by a gunman who opened fire at an Arizona congresswoman's event is the granddaughter of former manager Dallas Green, The Philadelphia Phillies said Sunday. Green went on to become general manager of the Chicago Cubs.
Christina-Taylor Green was shot outside a Tucson grocery story when she went to see Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was meeting with constituents there. Giffords was among 13 people wounded in the melee that killed six people, including Arizona's chief federal judge and an aide for the Democratic lawmaker.
"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," team president David Montgomery said. "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."
An uncle of the 9-year-old girl tells the Arizona Republic that a neighbor was going to the event and invited her along because she had just been elected to the student council and was interested in government.
Dallas Green is a former pitcher and manager in the major leagues. He's an executive adviser for the Phillies, the team he managed to the World Series championship in 1980. He then left for the Cubs, serving as general manager from 1981 until 1987. He also managed the New York Yankees in 1989 and the New York Mets from 1993 to 1996.
Christina's father, John Green, is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"We lost a member of the Dodgers family today," Los Angeles Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt said Sunday.
"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."