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Steve Scalise Among 5 Reportedly Shot at Baseball Field Steve Scalise Among 5 Reportedly Shot at Baseball Field
(35 minutes later)
Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House of Representatives, was shot at a baseball field in Alexandria, Va., when a gunman opened fire near a Y.M.C.A. on Wednesday morning, a congressional official said on Wednesday. Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House of Representatives, was shot at a baseball field in Alexandria, Va., when a gunman opened fire near a Y.M.C.A. on Wednesday morning, a congressional official said.
Representative Mo Brooks told CNN that “at least five” people were injured — including two law enforcement officers and a congressional aide — while members of a Republican congressional baseball team were practicing.Representative Mo Brooks told CNN that “at least five” people were injured — including two law enforcement officers and a congressional aide — while members of a Republican congressional baseball team were practicing.
President Trump said in a statement that he and the vice president were monitoring developments closely. Rep. Roger Williams, a Republican of Texas, said in a statement that one of his aides was shot.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.” Officials described a scene of chaos and of players taking cover wherever they could on the field.
Mr. Brooks described a scene of chaos and of players taking cover wherever they could on the field. Rep. Mike Bishop from Michigan said the gunman was standing outside the fence line behind third base aiming for the field’s only exit.
He said that members of a security team exchanged gunfire with the gunman, who was armed with a rifle. The gunman said nothing as he opened fire, Mr. Brooks said. About 50 shots were fired, congressional sources said. “If not for the detail who stepped up with basic revolvers, we would’ve all been dead,” he said, referring to members of the security team. He said he “Army-crawled” his way to taller grass and tried to reach the dugout, but bullets were hitting the dugout as well.
He said he went to the aid of one of the victims and used his belt as a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding from a gunshot to his leg. He said it was about two to five minutes before other officers arrived. “Ting, ting, ting, ting,” he said, describing the noise. “He was hunting us at that point. There was so much gunfire, you couldn’t get up and run. Pop, pop, pop, pop — it’s a sound I’ll never forget.”
Mr. Brooks said the gunman, who had a rifle, said nothing as he opened fire. At least 50 shots were fired, congressional sources said.
The police said the gunman was shot and wounded and taken into custody.
Mr. Brooks said he went to the aid of one of the victims and used his belt as a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding from a gunshot to his leg. He said it was about two to five minutes before other officers arrived.
“My adrenaline is raging,” he told CNN. “It’s not easy to take when you see people around you being shot and you don’t have a weapon yourself.”“My adrenaline is raging,” he told CNN. “It’s not easy to take when you see people around you being shot and you don’t have a weapon yourself.”
Mr. Scalise, a self-described strong conservative leader, represents the First Congressional District of Louisiana, which extends from the New Orleans suburbs.Mr. Scalise, a self-described strong conservative leader, represents the First Congressional District of Louisiana, which extends from the New Orleans suburbs.
Mr. Brooks said Mr. Scalise was shot in the hip and was at second base and dragging himself into the outfield to get away from the gunman.Mr. Brooks said Mr. Scalise was shot in the hip and was at second base and dragging himself into the outfield to get away from the gunman.
“There is not a whole lot you can do,” he said. “It was emotionally distressing to know the position he was in.”“There is not a whole lot you can do,” he said. “It was emotionally distressing to know the position he was in.”
He said the security officers were “screaming for reinforcements” and “it seemed like forever, but it was probably shorter than it was.”He said the security officers were “screaming for reinforcements” and “it seemed like forever, but it was probably shorter than it was.”
Joseph Miscavige, who was at the Y.M.C.A. at the time of the shooting, said he saw victims being taken away by ambulances. Alexandria police said the gunfire was reported at 7:09 a.m. and they were there within three minutes.
The Alexandria Police Department confirmed it was investigating a shooting and that an unspecified number of victims had been transported to hospitals. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, speaking to reporters, said he heard a very loud shot and then a rapid succession of gunshots. He said that the man had dark hair and was wearing a blue shirt and jeans, and had a rifle.
The police said on Twitter that a suspect was in custody. “It was obviously a large gauge rifle,” he said, adding that people were hiding behind trees, getting on the ground or running. “Bullets were flying. He had a lot of ammo,” he said of the gunman.
He added: “You’ve got to assume he knew what he was doing here. It is unclear whether Steve Scalise was targeted.”
Mr. Flake said Mr. Scalise “remained coherent” after being shot.
Gabrielle Giffords, a former member of Congress from Arizona, said on Twitter: “My heart is with my former colleagues, their families & staff, and the US Capitol Police- public servants and heroes today and every day.”
Ms. Giffords was a week into her third term as a United States representative when she was shot in the head at close range in a grocery store parking lot during a meeting with constituents on Jan. 8, 2011. The gunman killed six people and, aside from Ms. Giffords, injured 12 others.
The White House said in a statement that President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were made aware of the shootings.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.”
Rep. Jared Huffman said on Twitter that the Democratic baseball team was practicing when its members heard the news. “We’re safe & with police, everyone praying for GOP colleagues, staff & Cap police,” he wrote.
Rep. Peter King, a Republican from New York who was not there, said it was fortunate there were armed security at the field with the members. “God knows what would have happened if they weren’t there,” he said in a telephone interview.