As a team composed of Republican Congressman and staffers were practicing baseball at a field near Alexandria, VA, a shooter fired into the field, wounding Congressman Steve Scalise, along with a Congressional staffer and two Capitol Police officers.
The shooter was apparently a white male. According to Congressman Jeff Flake, the shooter was “in his 40s, maybe 50,” white, with dark hair. Several observers noted that he was wearing a blue shirt.
At least two Congressman have reported that they spoke with the man they believed to be the shooter before the incident, with Congressman Jeff Duncan reporting that the man asked if the team practicing was Democrats or Republicans. However, Democrats practice at another field. Multiple Republicans had this morning’s practice, which is preparation for a charity game, noted on their calendars. So it’s likely the shooter would not have arrived on the field, armed, without knowing which team was present.
The shooter apparently began firing from the third-base side of the field. Scalise, who was fielding balls near second base, was struck early. As Majority Whip, Scalise had two officers from the Capitol Police with him as a security detail. Both these officers and three officers from the Alexandria Police engaged the shooter.
A congressional staffer was also hit in the leg, while both Congressman Mo Brooks and other staffers stayed on the field, under fire to assist the wounded staffer. The shooter advanced down the third base line, shooting at staffers and Congressmen who were lying on the field, and apparently seeking an angle on those hiding behind the dugout and other structures.
The two officers from the Capitol Police were both injured. One officer, a woman who Congressman Flake indicated was named “Crystal,” was wounded and later air lifted from the field with injuries that appear more serious. The second Capitol Police officer, an African American man, was wounded in the leg, but remained on his feet, exchanging fire with the shooter.
The shooter was eventually wounded and taken into custody, apparently by the second wounded Capitol Police officer. Additional police from Alexandria were on scene within three minutes.
Scalise is reported to be in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. There is no word on the condition of the shooter or any others wounded in the incident.
Some present apparently noted that the shooter was carrying a weapon in advance of the shooting, with one Congressman remarking about “bird hunting.” However, it appears that the weapon was a semi-automatic rifle, with Rand Paul referring to the weapon as “an AR-15,” which doesn’t seem to match with the idea of bird hunting of any kind.
Wednesday, Jun 14, 2017 · 2:54:02 PM +00:00
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Barbara Morrill
The shooter has been identified:
The shooter at the GOP congressional baseball practice this morning is James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill., according to law enforcement officials. Hodgkinson, 66, owns a home inspection business. His home inspection license expired in November 2016 and was not renewed, state records show.
It appears that the shooter was aware that it was a Congressional team on the field. Whether he was targeting the Republicans because they were Republicans, or simply because they were in Congress, isn’t clear. Though several people noted the man was wearing a blue shirt, no one has mentioned any sort of logos or text and there have been no reports that the shooter was shouting anything as he advanced on the field.
Around twenty Congressmen were still at the site. Scalise seems not to have been targeted specifically, but was closer to the shooter than others. Many hid off the first-base side of the field or behind buildings around home plate.
Many present were quick to praise the bravery of the Capitol Police who took on a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle with handguns.