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Steve Scalise Among 5 Shot at Baseball Field Steve Scalise Among 5 Shot at Baseball Field
(35 minutes later)
Update: President Trump said the suspected gunman has died.
A lone gunman opened fire on Republican members of the congressional baseball team at a practice field in a Washington suburb Wednesday, using a rifle to shower the field with bullets that struck five people, including Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House of Representatives.A lone gunman opened fire on Republican members of the congressional baseball team at a practice field in a Washington suburb Wednesday, using a rifle to shower the field with bullets that struck five people, including Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House of Representatives.
Two members of Mr. Scalise’s protective police detail were wounded as they exchanged gunfire with the gunman in what lawmakers described as a chaotic, terror-filled ten minutes that turned the baseball practice into an early-morning nightmare. The police said two of the five people shot were critically wounded.Two members of Mr. Scalise’s protective police detail were wounded as they exchanged gunfire with the gunman in what lawmakers described as a chaotic, terror-filled ten minutes that turned the baseball practice into an early-morning nightmare. The police said two of the five people shot were critically wounded.
Standing at second base, Mr. Scalise was struck, in the hip, according to witnesses, and collapsed as the shots rang out, one after another, from behind a chain-link fence near the third-base dugout. Witnesses said Mr. Scalise, of Louisiana, “army crawled” his way toward taller grass as the shooting continued.Standing at second base, Mr. Scalise was struck, in the hip, according to witnesses, and collapsed as the shots rang out, one after another, from behind a chain-link fence near the third-base dugout. Witnesses said Mr. Scalise, of Louisiana, “army crawled” his way toward taller grass as the shooting continued.
Two law enforcement officials identified the gunman as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, from Belleville, Ill., a suburb of St. Louis. The Washington Post first identified Mr. Hodgkinson as the suspect in the shooting.Two law enforcement officials identified the gunman as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, from Belleville, Ill., a suburb of St. Louis. The Washington Post first identified Mr. Hodgkinson as the suspect in the shooting.
The police said the gunman was wounded and taken into custody after the gunfight with the Capitol Police security detail and local police officers, who arrived minutes after they received desperate calls for help from those at the field. The F.B.I. said the bureau would take the lead in the investigation, treating it as an assault on a federal officer.The police said the gunman was wounded and taken into custody after the gunfight with the Capitol Police security detail and local police officers, who arrived minutes after they received desperate calls for help from those at the field. The F.B.I. said the bureau would take the lead in the investigation, treating it as an assault on a federal officer.
Witnesses described a man with white hair and a beard wielding a long gun standing behind the dugout.Witnesses described a man with white hair and a beard wielding a long gun standing behind the dugout.
“He was hunting us at that point,” said Representative Mike Bishop, Republican of Michigan, who was standing at home plate when the shooting began at 7:09 a.m. Mr. Bishop said the gunman seemed to be “double-tapping” the trigger of his weapon. “There was so much gunfire, you couldn’t get up and run,” he said. “Pop, pop, pop, pop — it’s a sound I’ll never forget.”“He was hunting us at that point,” said Representative Mike Bishop, Republican of Michigan, who was standing at home plate when the shooting began at 7:09 a.m. Mr. Bishop said the gunman seemed to be “double-tapping” the trigger of his weapon. “There was so much gunfire, you couldn’t get up and run,” he said. “Pop, pop, pop, pop — it’s a sound I’ll never forget.”
The authorities said they could not comment on the motive for the shooting. Tim Slater, a special agent in charge in the F.B.I’s Washington field office, said investigators are “exploring all angles.” Asked whether the shooting was an assassination attempt, he said it was “too early in the investigation to say one way or another.”The authorities said they could not comment on the motive for the shooting. Tim Slater, a special agent in charge in the F.B.I’s Washington field office, said investigators are “exploring all angles.” Asked whether the shooting was an assassination attempt, he said it was “too early in the investigation to say one way or another.”
Aides to Mr. Scalise said Wednesday morning that he underwent surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and was in stable condition. The police said a total of five people were transported to hospitals.Aides to Mr. Scalise said Wednesday morning that he underwent surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and was in stable condition. The police said a total of five people were transported to hospitals.
A friend of Zachary Barth, a staff member for Representative Roger Williams, Republican of Texas, posted a message from Mr. Barth on Facebook saying: “I got shot this morning at the baseball fields. But I am in the hospital and ok. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers.”A friend of Zachary Barth, a staff member for Representative Roger Williams, Republican of Texas, posted a message from Mr. Barth on Facebook saying: “I got shot this morning at the baseball fields. But I am in the hospital and ok. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers.”
Representative Mo Brooks told CNN that Representative Mo Brooks, Republican of Alabama, told CNN that the gunman, who had a rifle, had said nothing as he opened fire. At least 50 shots were fired, congressional sources said.
the gunman, who had a rifle, had said nothing as he opened fire. At least 50 shots were fired, congressional sources said.
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.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 represents the First Congressional District of Louisiana, which extends from the New Orleans suburbs.Mr. Scalise 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.”
The Alexandria police said the gunfire was reported at 7:09 a.m. and they were there within three minutes.The Alexandria police said the gunfire was reported at 7:09 a.m. and they were there within three minutes.
Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, speaking to reporters, said he had heard a very loud shot and then a rapid succession of gunshots.Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, speaking to reporters, said he had heard a very loud shot and then a rapid succession of gunshots.
“It was obviously a large gauge rifle,” he said. People were hiding behind trees, getting on the ground or running. “Bullets were flying. He had a lot of ammo.”“It was obviously a large gauge rifle,” he said. People were hiding behind trees, getting on the ground or running. “Bullets were flying. He had a lot of ammo.”
He added: “You’ve got to assume he knew what he was doing here. It is unclear whether Steve Scalise was targeted.”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 had “remained coherent” after being shot.Mr. Flake said Mr. Scalise had “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.”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.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 Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were told about the shooting. “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.”The White House said in a statement that President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were told about the shooting. “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 had been practicing when its members heard the news. “We’re safe & with police, everyone praying for GOP colleagues, staff & Cap police,” he wrote. Representative Jared Huffman, a California Democrat, said on Twitter that the Democratic baseball team had been practicing when its members heard the news. “We’re safe & with police, everyone praying for GOP colleagues, staff & Cap police,” he wrote.
Representative 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.Representative 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.