Breaking News - Shooting in Virginia: A gunman opened fire on members of congress
A Congressman was shot in a mass shooting at a baseball practice where GOP House Members in Virginia where participating.
According to reports, the gunman shot Steve Scalise, GOP congressman, in the hip. He was transported to a hospital and is reportedly out of danger.
House Whip Steve Scalise from Louisiana was shot in the hip and hospitalized, but is expected to survive after Senator Jeff Flake and another congressman rushed out to the field and heroically worked to staunch the bleeding, according to Flake and other lawmakers who witnessed the chaotic, bloody scene.
Char Adams - People.com
At least two other are said to have been shot.
One of Rep. Roger Williams’ aides was injured in the attack and was being treated at a local hospital in the wake of the shooting, Williams announced in a tweet.
The gunman is said to have shot up to 50 times with a rifle, before he was taken down by Capitol Police.
.@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
There were around 25 GOP members present in the field, practicing for the Congressional Baseball Game, a traditional charity with decades of history.
Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 14, 2017
More updates.
Steve is okay according to Sen. Jeff Flake, who also mentioned that someone's ten year old son was caught in the gunfire but appears to have no injuries.
CBS states that Scalise, once shot in the hip, tried to "drag himself to safety". Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R), former battlefield surgeon, tended to Scalise before ambulance showed up. Says "It felt like I was back in Iraq".
FBI agent Slate says that they brought their response squad, took the lead once they found out that a congressman was involved. The Governor of Virginia says next that he is proud of everyone's efforts and that this is tragic. Agent Slate goes on with taking questions: "It is too early to say" whether or not this was a terrorist attack or a targeted event, says they are "exploring all angles". Says that they are beginning to "narrow down on the identity of the shooter". Slater says that he doesn't know what kind of weapon was used by the shooter.
Agent Slate neither denies nor confirms how many were transported to hospital, and doesn't say whether or not one of them may have been the shooter. Police Chief Michael Brown states that "five people were transported to hospital". Doesn't deny or confirm what other sources are saying. Governor, when asked about whether or not area was safe and additional threats, responds with saying "we did not believe anything like this would occur".
The gunman has been identified: James T. Hodgkinson, 66yrs old, owns a home inspection business, from Belleville, Illinois. See this article from the Telegraph.
Damn, this baseball game is done every year to stenghten and improve bipartisanship in congress. It's crazy someone would just decide to target a charity even like this one.
According to Rand Pau, the only reason Capitol Police were there and able to take down gunman was because of Scalise's ranking and required protection. Thinks they all would have been shot if that had not been the case.
Disclaimer: I am just a bot trying to be helpful.
Impeach is code for kill
the Democrats have been repeatedly calling for impeachment.
a day or so ago there was a play in NY that was a thinly veiled call to kill trump.
now this.
"The assailant has now died from his injuries", says Trump, adding that Congressman Scalise is a "friend, a very good friend, and a patriot".
Disclaimer: I am just a bot trying to be helpful.
Photograph of the suspected gunman
The Illinois States Attorney Office has sent this image of James T Hodgkinson to the BBC.
Hodgkinson has been identified by US media as the attacker.