A gunman opened fire on a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, where Republican members of Congress were practicing for an upcoming congressional baseball game, injuring five, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R–Louisiana), the New York Times reports.
Scalise’s congressional office released a statement saying he was being taken to the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and describing his condition as stable. Four others were reportedly injured, including an aide to Representative Roger Williams (R–Texas), after the gunman opened fire from the fence behind third base, aiming for the field’s only exit.
Representative Mo Brooks (R–Alabama) told CNN the shooter was “going after elected officials.”
Armed security personnel were at the field with the team, and police responded within minutes. In a statement from the White House, President Donald Trump said the suspected shooter had died.*
“If not for the detail who stepped up with basic revolvers, we would’ve all been dead,” Representative Mike Bishop (R–Michigan) told the Times.
“This morning’s violence is absolutely senseless,” Representative Dan Kildee (D–Michigan), who plays on the Democratic baseball team, said in a statement. “My thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Steve Scalise, staff, and police officers who were shot.”
A hearing scheduled for today on the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, which would ease gun-silencer rules, has been canceled.
*Update — June 14th, 2017: This article has been updated after Trump announced the suspect had died.
