Republican congressman Scalise wounded in multiple shooting
Shooting erupts at US lawmakers baseball practice
ALEXANDRIA: A rifle-wielding attacker opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice yesterday, wounding House GOP Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and several others as congressmen and aides dove for cover. The assailant, prepared with “a lot of ammo,” fought a gun battle with police before he, too, was shot and later died. Scalise dragged himself off the infield leaving a trail of blood as colleagues rushed to his assistance.
Capitol Police officers who were in Scalise’s security detail wounded the shooter, who was taken into custody. In all, five people were taken to area hospitals, including the suspect, Alexandria police said. The shooter later died of his injuries, President Donald Trump told the nation from the White House. “Everyone on that field is a public servant,” Trump said. “Their sacrifice makes democracy possible.” Scalise, 51, the No 3 House Republican leader first elected to the House in 2008, was in stable condition and undergoing surgery.
A government official identified the shooter as an Illinois man named James T Hodgkinson. The official was not authorized to discuss an investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Texas Rep Roger Williams, who coaches the GOP team, said that one of his aides, Zack Barth, was shot, but “is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.” Rep Jeff Duncan of South Carolina said he had just left the practice and encountered the apparent gunman in the parking lot before the shooting.
The man calmly asked which party’s lawmakers were practicing and Duncan told him they were the Republicans. The man thanked him.
The gunman had a rifle and “a lot of ammo,” said Sen Jeff Flake of Arizona, who was at the practice. The shocking event left the Capitol horrified and stunned. The House canceled proceedings for the day. The shooting occurred at a popular park and baseball complex in Alexandria, Virginia, where Republican lawmakers and others were gathered for a morning practice about 7 am.
They were in good spirits despite the heat and humidity as they prepared for the congressional baseball match that pits Republicans against Democrats. The popular annual face-off, which raises money for charity, was scheduled for Thursday evening at Nationals Park across the Potomac River in Washington. The team was taking batting practice when gunshots rang out and chaos erupted. Scalise was fielding balls on second base when he was shot, according to lawmakers present, then dragged himself into the outfield to get away from the gunman.
Rep Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, said his colleague “crawled into the outfield, leaving a trail of blood.”“We started giving him the liquids, I put pressure on his wound in his hip,” Brooks said. Texas Rep Joe Barton, still in his baseball uniform, told reporters a shooter came out to the practice and opened fire, shooting at Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss, who plays third base. “He shot at Steve Scalise, our second baseman. He hit Steve Scalise,” Barton said, “Scalise’s security detail and the Capitol Hill police immediately returned fire, and Alexandria Police also immediately came and began to return fire.
They shot the shooter. The security detail saved a lot of lives because they attacked the shooter.”
Barton said the shooting lasted 5-10 minutes, and there were dozens if not hundreds of shots fired. “It was scary,” Barton said. Lawmakers took cover in the dugout. Barton said his son, Jack, got under an SUV. FBI special agent in charge Tim Slater said it was “too early to say” whether it was an act of terrorism, or whether Scalise was targeted. After the gunfire stopped, Sen Flake, of Arizona, said he ran onto the field and also tried to come to Scalise’s aide. — AP