Arizona Tea Party Leader Talks About 'You're Dead' Threat From Shooting Victim

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The co-founder of the Tucson Tea Party is worried about the threats he is receiving, including the remark he says a shooting victim made to him at a televised town hall meeting.

Trent Humphries told The Associated Press on Sunday he was surprised when shooting victim James Eric Fuller took a picture of him and said "you're dead." The 63-year-old Fuller was arrested Saturday on disorderly conduct and threat charges and taken for a psychiatric exam.

Authorities say he began ranting at the end of ABC News' forum, at one point calling the audience "whores."

Fuller was one of 19 people shot when a gunman opened fire Jan. 8 at a meet-and-greet for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The congresswoman was critically injured and six people were killed.

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Christie reported from Phoenix.

Blaze editor note: To see our report from earlier today that includes video from the ABC News special, including Humphries on-air comments and the arrest of Fuller, click here.

TPM:

The tea party leader, Trent Humphries, told TPM he hopes that if Fuller needs help, he gets it -- especially if it's the kind of help the suspected shooter never got.

"If pressing charges is the only way to make sure he gets the help he needs, we'll probably do that," Humphries said in a phone interview Sunday. "I'm not saying this guy's Jared Loughner, but I can't tell you for sure he's not a danger to himself, me or the community."