Hero intern, Daniel Hernandez Jr, who helped save Gabby Giffords will run for her seat Daniel Hernandes Jr, the intern hailed as a hero for helping save the life of then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords following an attempted assassination, is running to represent her former district in Congress. By: The Associated Press & Scripps National Posted at 1:12 PM, May 21, 2021 and last updated 2021-05-22 09:40:53-04 PHOENIX (AP) â The intern hailed as a hero for helping save the life of then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords following an attempted assassination is running to represent her former district in Congress. Daniel Hernandez Jr. was a 20-year-old college student in his first week interning for Giffords when a gunman opened fire at a constituent event killing six and injuring 13, including Giffords.