Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and at least four others were shot early Wednesday morning after a gunman with a rifle opened fire on their Republican congressional baseball practice in Virginia.
The shooting began around 7:15 am. According to Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla), he was leaving the practice when a man approached him while he was walking to his car. The man asked if it was the Republicans or the Democrats practicing. Minutes later, DeSantis says the shooting began.
The shooting lasted about 10 minutes. Scalise was hit in the hip. Reportedly, two Capitol Hill police officers were also shot and one aide was reportedly shot in the chest.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), who was on deck waiting to bat when the shooting began, described Scalise leaving a trail of blood as he dragged himself from second base to the outfield. Brooks says he used a belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding of one unidentified staffer. As for the shooter, Brooks described him as a white male who was “a bit on the chubby side.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says the shooter, who he believed was using an AR-15-style rifle, let off at least 50-60 shots. The gunman reportedly took aim from behind the dugout.
U.S. Capitol Police shot the gunman, apprehended him and took him to the hospital.
Multiple lawmakers tweeted their thoughts to those affected by the shooting. The House of Democrats also gathered in prayer during their baseball practice upon hearing the news. The annual Congressional Baseball Game is scheduled for June 15 at Nationals Park.
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