Gunman opens fire on top US politician in Virginia
A gunman opened fire on Republican members of congress during a baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday, wounding several people including senior Republican leader Steve Scalise, before being taken into custody, police and witnesses said.
Scalise, the third ranking member of House Republican leadership as the majority whip, appeared to have been shot in the hip and it appeared two Capitol Hill police agents were shot, according to Representative Mo Brooks.
President Donald Trump, in a statement from the White House, said the shooting suspect had died. Law enforcement authorities identified him as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, from Belleville, Ill., a suburb of St. Louis.
The shooting appears to be a “deliberate attack,” sources say
Four others besides Scalise — a congressional staffer, a lobbyist and two members of the security detail — were also injured.
South Carolina representative Jeff Duncan, who left baseball practice early, said he thinks he spoke to the gunmen in the parking lot before the shooting.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected,” Trump said earlier in a statement.
About 50 to 100 shots were fired, congressional sources said.
