House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and others have been shot while at an early morning congressional baseball game practice in what is being reported as a “deliberate attack.”
Scalise is now in “critical condition” following a surgery, according to the hospital he was taken to.
The MedStar Washington Hospital Center tweeted that “Rep. Scalise was critically injured and remains in critical condition.”
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The gunman has been identified as 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson, according to law enforcement officials.
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“The field was basically a killing field,” Sen. Rand Paul told CNN during an interview Wednesday morning, adding that he “heard some say it was politically motivated.”
The Alexandria Police Department said five people were transported to local hospitals, “including suspect.”
Scalise’s office put out a statement Wednesday following the incident.
“This morning, at a practice for the Congressional Baseball Game, Whip Scalise was shot in the hip,” his office said. “He was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where is currently undergoing surgery. He is in stable condition.”
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“We will not ID victims or suspect right now,” the police department said in its tweet.
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It was first reported that Scalise and two Capitol Hill police agents were shot, and that “at least one of them was wounded.” Rep. Mo Brooks spoke to CNN, and he said he used his belt as a tourniquet for one of the victims.
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During a press conference shortly following the incident, Alexandria Chief of Police Michael Brown said the department responded Wednesday morning and returned fire at the scene.
Brown did not give any other details at the time, “until we know exactly what has taken place,” he said, as there were many witnesses to interview at the scene.
Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said there were officers on the scene who responded immediately and engaged the suspect.
At the time of the first press conference, the Alexandria Police Department had already tweeted that the suspect is in custody and “not a threat.”
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“I saw him for a second or two,” Brooks said, saying the shooter appeared to be a white male but was behind the third base dugout.
“The gun was semiautomatic,” the representative told CNN. “It continued to fire at different people. You can imagine, all the people on the field scatter.”
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Alexandria Police tweeted earlier Wednesday that they were responding to a “multiple shooting” at the 400 block of East Monroe Street.
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President Donald Trump tweeted that “Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
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