Scalise Critical After Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice

More information is coming out about the shooter, James Hodgkinson, who died of injuries he suffered in the shootout with Capitol Police. His brother told the New York Times that Hodgkinson “was distraught over the election of President Trump and traveled to Washington in recent weeks to protest” but also described the shooting as “out of the blue.” Hodgkinson’s social media postings showed that he was a Bernie Sanders supporter. Sanders spoke out Wednesday, condemning the violence “in the strongest possible terms.”

Update 12:27 p.m. GOP Congresswoman Martha McSally, who represents the Arizona district of former representative Gabby Giffords, victim of a 2011 shooting, told reporters late Wednesday morning that the Congressional Baseball Game, a charity event, would proceed tomorrow night as planned. When Speaker Ryan made the announcement in a briefing on the shooting, members of Congress rose for a standing ovation, she said.

Update 11:41 a.m. President Trump announced during remarks at the White House that the man who shot Steve Scalise and several others has died. The Washington Post earlier identified him as James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill. Hodgkinson was 66.

Update 10:51 a.m. A press conference with the FBI, Capitol Police, Alexandria Police, and Virginia Governor Terry McAulliffe served mostly to let people know how little authorities are willing, or able, to share in the early hours after a shooting such as this.

Tim Slater, the FBI special agent in charge, said the shooting was “not an assassination attempt” though he later corrected himself to say that it was “too early to say.” He would not say whether specific members of Congress were targeted or even, contrary to rumors, whether the representatives were shot because of their party affiliation. Rep. Ron DeSantis said that as he was leaving practice a man asked him “whether it was Republicans or Democrats out there.”

Authorities would also not speak to the kind of weapon that was used.

The Washington Post, however, is reporting that (unnamed) law enforcement officials have identified the shooter as James T. Hodgkinson.

McAuliffe did use the opportunity to call for gun control. “I have long advocated ‐‐ this is not what today is about ‐‐there are too many guns.” He went on to say that we lost “93 million Americans a day” to gun violence before correcting himself to 93 gun deaths a day.

Update: 9:56 a.m. Multiple congressmen described a horrifying environment at a typically tranquil gathering. Rep. Mo Brooks and Sen. Jeff Flake both said the assailant was armed with a rifle. Scalise was said to be in the infield at the time of the attack. A firefight with a Capitol Police detail that was present ensued. “They both took bullets, trying to protect our lives,” Brooks told CNN. Brooks credited Rep. Brad Wenstrup, an Army surgeon who served in Iraq, for administering aid to Scalise amid the frenzy.

“If we didn’t have that security detail we would have been at the mercy of the shooter,” Brooks said. If not for their presence, he described a scene that “could very well have been a large-scale massacre.”

The crime scene was growing as of mid-morning. A security barricade was established about two blocks from Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, where GOP members gather around daybreak several times a year to take batting practice and play simulated innings ahead of the Congressional Baseball Game, a fundraiser for Washington-area charities. The game was scheduled for tomorrow.

The practice events are usually low-key, neighborhood affairs. A local coffee shop is across the street, and the field is pocketed among basketball courts, a soccer field, and a YMCA. But the scene that unfolded Wednesday was hectic. Sirens flew down otherwise quiet streets and the whirring of helicopter blades could be heard overhead. Scalise was airlifted from the outfield. Photographs posted to Twitter appeared to reveal bullet holes in the window of the nearby gym.

9:45 a.m.: Scalise’s office has issued the following statement:

9:15 a.m. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot Wednesday morning at a practice for the the congressional baseball team. ABC News reports that Scalise was one of four people shot and that the suspect is in custody. The New York Times, citing Rep. Mo Brooks, reported that five people were injured.

Details are still emerging but outlets are reporting that police are calling the shooting a “deliberate act” and that Scalise’s injuries are not life-threatening.

CNN interviewed Brooks, who was at the practice:

Alexandria police announced they will hold a press conference at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Scalise, who represents Lousisiana’s 1st district, has been in Congress since 2008.