House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and Rep. Roger Williams were shot and multiple congressional aides were also hit by a gunman with a rifle who opened fire at a GOP baseball practice in Virginia Wednesday morning, Fox News confirmed.
The gunman was shot by U.S. Capital Police, apprehended and taken to the hospital, officials said. Sen. Mike Lee told Fox News, however, the gunman was dead.
Both @POTUS & @VP are aware of the developing situation in Virginia. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected.
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) June 14, 2017
“Finally the shooter was shot behind home plate as he was circling around to the first base dugout where there were a number of us congressmen and other folks,” Rep. Mo Brooks told FMTALK1065. “Our security detail was able to incapacitate him at that point. I don’t know if he [shooter] was dead. He was wounded. I don’t know how many times he was wounded.”
Brooks reportedly used a belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding of an aide who was shot in the leg. Two law enforcement officers were also injured, included one who was hit in the leg, Brooks said.
“The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely,” President Trump said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.”
The Department of Homeland Security was monitoring the episode.
Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., told Fox News he left just before the shooting. As he walked to his car, a man asked DeSantis if it was Republicans or Democrats practicing. About three minutes later, at around 7:15 a.m. the shooting began, DeSantis said. It reportedly last about 10 minutes.
“Behind third base, I see a rifle…I hear Steve Scalise over near 2nd base scream,” Brooks said. “…While all of this is going on, Steve Scalise our whip was lying on the ground near the second base position crawling into right field, leaving a trail of blood.”
Photo of Rep. Steve Scalise following shooting at Virginia baseball field during a Congressional baseball practice. pic.twitter.com/PRATI54OrJ
— Josh Caplan (@joshdcaplan) June 14, 2017
Aside from Scalise, DeSantis and Brooks, Reps. Brad Wenstrup and Chuck Fleischmann, and Sens. Rand Paul and Jeff Flake were among the 15-25 people at Simpson Field in Alexandria for the practice.
Paul told MSNBC that if Capital Police weren’t there “it would have been a massacre.”
Brooks said the gunman was using the dugout as cover and estimated the assailant got off 50-100 shots during the attack.
Alexandria schools were placed on lockdown as the incident unfolded.
Scalise, 51, is the House majority whip. He has represented Louisiana’s First Congressional District since 2008 and chairs the House Republican Study Committee. He is married with two children. Scalise’s district includes New Orleans.
Since he’s in leadership, Scalise has a security detail.
Scalise, who studied computer science at Louisiana State University, worked as a systems engineer before launching his political career. Scalise endorsed President Trump during last year’s presidential campaign, and has been a vocal backer of Trump’s travel ban. As leader of the powerful study group, he has also spearheaded the effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare.
The Congressional Baseball Game is scheduled for June 15 at Nationals Park. The game, which has been a tradition since 1909, pits Senate and House members of each party who sport the uniform of their home state. The practice location is about 10 miles from Washington, D.C.
.@HouseDemocrats praying for our @HouseGOP @SenateGOP baseball colleagues after hearing about the horrific shooting. https://t.co/y2HEUaSuzd pic.twitter.com/6HBrlnxtey
— Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen (@RepKihuen) June 14, 2017
Paul told MSNBC that if Capital Police weren’t there “it would have been a massacre.”…………….dang
Every treasonous swine put down is a step towards healing this nation, why should I feel any compassion for anyone supporting a lawless system that leaves the border open yet operates a police state internally?
How bout golf. Na too far to run.
The first shots have been fired in the war between the communist pedophiles in our government and the American people. The EFIO is 100% guilty
Their treason is duly noted , but will they read the warning?