Mother of Christina-Taylor Green, Shot at Tucson Event, Says Daughter Wanted to Go Into Politics

Jan. 9, 2011 — -- At just 9 years old, Christina-Taylor Green already had big plans to one day serve her country.

Christina-Taylor, who was the youngest of the six victims shot and killed Saturday during the shooting spree outside a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store, had gone to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' political event to "learn more about politics," according to her mother, Roxanna Green.

"As young as she was, Christina-Taylor talked about getting all the parties to come together so we could live in a better country," Green told ABC News. "She was going to Giffords' event to ask questions about how she could help and to learn more about politics in our country."

"She was proud of her country and wanted to know more about the political process," she said. "She was a beautiful girl inside and out."

Christina-Taylor, the granddaughter of former Phillies manager Dallas Green, was taken to Giffords' informal town hall meeting by a neighbor who was considered her pseudo-aunt, said her mother.

She died on the scene from a single bullet wound to her chest, when alleged gunman Jared Loughner opened fire, shooting a total of 20 people.

"She had a great morning, she got up early yesterday morning and was talking about the event, and how excited she was," said Green of her daughter's final hours. "She was very mature for her age."

Christina-Taylor was born on 9/11 and had used her birthdate as a source of inspiration during her short life. She was featured in a book about babies born on 9/11 called "Faces of Hope."

"She was very interested in politics since she was a little girl," Green said. "I think that being born on 9/11 had a lot to do with that."

"She always thought about how she was born on 9/11, and she saw the positive in it," Green said. "She thought of it as a day of hope and change, a chance for the country to come together to be united."

The little girl's father, John Green, called the tragedy "disappointing."

"She came into the world on 9/11 and then at 9 years old she leaves it all on this terrible day," said John Green. "But we wouldn't take it back any of the 9 years we had with her."

"It was all worth it," he said. "But we still believe in this country."

Third grade had already been off to a good start for Christina-Taylor, who was recently elected student council president at Mesa Verde Elementary School.

In addition to politics, Christina-Taylor loved to dance and was the only girl on her baseball team, the Pirates, in what is otherwise an all-boys little league.

"She was very popular, she was a girly girl as well as as a tomboy," Green said. "She had done ballet for many years and gymnastics, and wanted to be a cheerleader."

Raised in an observant Catholic household, Christina-Taylor had just received her first communion at the St. Odilia's Catholic Church, where she was also a member of the choir.

In her free time, Christina-Taylor loved to take care of her older brother, 11-year-old Dallas who has Asperger's Syndrome, which is on the spectrum of autism disorders.

"She always was very strong and positive for him," Green said.

The Phillies issued a statement on Christina-Taylor's death writing, "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," read the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by yesterday's horrific shooting."

A Facebook group in memory of Christina-Taylor has been inundated by messages left by strangers devastated over the young girl's death.

One person wrote, "There are no words to comfort the loss of a child by needless violence. May time heal your pain."

Another message read, "From Joint Base Balad, Iraq -- my deepest condolences to the family over the loss of this young patriot and hero. With much sadness, very respectfully James J. Galluzzo III, Major US Army."

Green said she hopes that her daughter's death brings change to the political landscape in the United States.

"All I want is awareness and change, just like Christina would," Green said.

"Things like this should never, ever happen again," she said. "I want there to be a stop for the violence and hatred and all the bashing of politicians isn't not helping, and it's not working."