Top politician wounded in US shooting
Gunman a fervent supporter of Clinton’s rival
AGUNMAN who opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a baseball practice yesterday has been identified as James T Hodgkinson, a strong supporter of leftist Senator Bernie Sanders. US media identified Hodgkinson, who died following a shootout with police in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, as a 66-year-old from Belleville Illinois, a suburb of St Louis.
At least five people, including a top Republican congressman, were wounded early yesterday morning when shooting erupted as they practised for an annual baseball game between legislators.
Senior congressman Steve Scalise was shot in the hip, according to fellow Republican legislator Mo Brooks, who told CNN at least two law enforcement officers and one congressional staffer had also been shot in the 6am incident in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Five people were transported medically from the scene,” Alexandria police chief Michael Brown said.
Sanders swiftly responded to the reports, saying he was sickened by the shooting.
“I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the Republican baseball practice is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign,” a statement from the former Democratic presidential hopeful said.
“I am sickened by this despicable act. Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms.”
According to his Facebook page, Hodgkinson was a fervent supporter of Sanders, the feisty independent who almost defeated Hillary Clinton last year in a tough fight for the Democratic White House nomination.
Hodgkinson’s wife said he had been living in Alexandria, Virginia, the location of the shooting, for the past two months.
President Donald Trump said he was closely monitoring the developments in Virginia, and that Scalise, the majority whip who rallies Republican votes in the House of Representatives, was expected to recover.
However, following surgery, Scalise remained in a critical condition.
“Rep Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” Trump tweeted.
About 25 senators and congressmen were at the practice, according to Senator Jeff Flake, who said about 50 shots had rung out in the exchange of fire between the gunman and the legislators’ security detail. Asked whether he thought it was a random shooting, Brooks said: “It sure as heck wasn’t an accident.
“People know this is the Republican baseball team practising,” he said. “You can tell. You can recognise many of us. You can see our security detail.
“He knew who we were. I’m a former prosecutor and, yeah he was going after elected officials, congressmen.”
Scalise, a representative from the southern state of Louisiana elected to Congress in 2008, heads the conservative House caucus known as the Republican Study Committee.
He is among legislators leading the drive to repeal former president Barack Obama’s health care law. – AFP