House Majority Whip Steve Scalise Shot as Shooter Opened Fire at GOP Baseball Practic
Five people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA), were shot Wednesday morning during a congressional baseball practice. According to reports, a gunman walked up to practice and opened fire on the baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia.
According to Representative Mo Brooks (AL), Scalise, who was standing on second base, sustained a “hip wound.” Brooks also told the Associated Press that numerous people, including two law enforcement officers, were hit by the gunman. Scalise is reported to be in stable condition, as are the two Capitol Police offers who were hit.
In an interview with MSNBC Senator Rand Paul recounted a “rapid succession of shots...five or ten shots” and saw “Represenative Scalise shot but moving.” Paul also said that he saw staffers laying on the baseball field while bullet shots hit the ground around him. Paul noted that the shooter reloaded and that without the quick response of the Capitol Police, more would have been injured or died. “Had they not been there, it would have been a massacre,” Paul said.
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Rep. Mo Brooks: I “ran into the dugout and dove head first onto the concrete” to avoid shooting at baseball practice
https://t.co/oVr6ywj6J6
— CNN (@CNN) June 14, 2017
Mo Brooks described the “trail of blood” he saw on the baseball field as Scalise and staffers tried to crawl off the field. According to Senator Jeff Flake, who was also at the practice, the shooting lasted around ten minutes.
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Sen Flake said attack continued for 10 minutes. Said security officer was able to return fire & take down gunman despite being shot himself.
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) June 14, 2017
Brooks identified the shooter as a “white male, armed with a rifle.” Representative Ron DeSantis (FL) told Fox News that the shooting was politically motivated. The Alexandria Police said that they had the suspect in custody and that the shooter is “not a threat.”
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UPDATE: Suspect is in custody and not a threat. PIO will be onscene shortly to share updates.
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) June 14, 2017
In a statement, President Trump said:
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The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely. 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.
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