HOUSTON – Former U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, are moving back to Tucson, Arizona.
Kelly made the announcement on Twitter Sunday morning.
"Moving back to Tucson today. Gabby has been waiting for this day for a long time," he wrote.
For the past year, the couple have been living in Kelly's League City home, the same home he owned while working at the nearby Johnson Space Center. A family friend told Local 2 that Giffords had finished her therapy in Houston and will continue her therapy in Tucson.
The couple bought a new home in Tucson, which will be their primary residence. They don't plan on selling their League City home, said the family friend.
Giffords was among 19 people who were shot by a gunman outside a Tucson grocery store in January 2011. She relocated to the Houston suburb of League City while undergoing extensive therapy at Houston's TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital.
Neighbors told KPRC Local 2 they didn't realize Giffords and Kelly were leaving. They were sad to see them go.
"It's news for us," said Beatrice Soliman. "We are going to miss them."
Giffords wanted to be closer to her family and friends in Arizona, a reason for their move back.