Top US politician Steve Scalise, aides shot in Virginia
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| Scalise is the second-ranking member of Republican leadership in the House of Representatives [Alex Brando/AP Photo] |
A gunman opened fire on Republican members of congress during a
baseball practice near Washington early on Wednesday, wounding several
people including senior Republican leader Steve Scalise, before being
taken into custody, police and witnesses said.
The gunman died later of his injuries, President Donald Trump announced at the White House.
Lawmakers said the shooter, who was armed with a rifle, had exchanged
fire with Capitol Hill police who were at the scene and was shot before
being taken into custody.
Scalise, the third most senior figure in the House of Representatives
Republican leadership, was shot in the hip at the baseball field in
Alexandria, Virginia. He was tended to by fellow lawmakers including
Brad Wenstrup, an Ohio congressman who is a physician, before being
transported to a hospital.
Five people were transported medically from the scene, Alexandria's
police chief, Michael Brown told reporters. Two of the wounded were
Capitol Hill police who were at the scene and who engaged in a gunfight
with the shooter, witnesses said.
At a news conference, authorities declined to identify the suspect.
The Associated Press, quoting an unnamed government official, identified
him as James Hodgkinson of Illinois.
The FBI and local law enforcement officials say they haven't identified a motive.
Some 25 to 30 Republican members of the House and Senate had gathered
for an early morning practice a day before the annual charity
congressional baseball game pitting Republicans against Democrats, said
Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama.
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| Two capitol police officers returned fire at the shooter for well over five minutes, witnesses told Al Jazeera [Reuters] |
In a dramatic blow-by-blow account, Brooks told CNN the gunman was
armed with a rifle and appeared to be a white middle-aged male, "a
little bit on the chubby side".
He said he saw the man only for a second, and that he was shooting
from a chain link fence behind the dugout near third base position on
the field where the congressional group was holding a morning practice.
"There must have been 50 to 100 shots fired," he told CNN. "I hear Steve Scalise over near second base scream. He was shot," said Brooks, adding he helped apply a tourniquet with his belt to a congressional staffer who was shot in the leg.
The security detail for Scalise, the second-ranking member of the Republican leadership in the lower House of Representatives, returned fire when the shooting broke out.
Witnesses told Al Jazeera the shootout lasted well over five minutes.
"There must have been 50 to 100 shots fired," he told CNN. "I hear Steve Scalise over near second base scream. He was shot," said Brooks, adding he helped apply a tourniquet with his belt to a congressional staffer who was shot in the leg.
The security detail for Scalise, the second-ranking member of the Republican leadership in the lower House of Representatives, returned fire when the shooting broke out.
Witnesses told Al Jazeera the shootout lasted well over five minutes.
"Eyewitnesses say after the congressman was shot, he actually crawled
to the outfield and that’s when there was gunfire going back and forth
between the suspect and the capitol police officers here," said Al
Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo, reporting from Alexandria.
"One man told us one of the police officers that was shot was on the ground and still returning gunfire against the suspect."
Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington DC, said the exact casualty figures are not yet been established.
"We know that Steve Scalise was shot in the hip, according to his aide; we know two capitol police officers were shot - one male, one female; we know at least one other person was shot - perhaps in the chest; and then there's the gunman himself who was also shot," he said.
"There may be more casualties."
"One man told us one of the police officers that was shot was on the ground and still returning gunfire against the suspect."
Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi, reporting from Washington DC, said the exact casualty figures are not yet been established.
"We know that Steve Scalise was shot in the hip, according to his aide; we know two capitol police officers were shot - one male, one female; we know at least one other person was shot - perhaps in the chest; and then there's the gunman himself who was also shot," he said.
"There may be more casualties."
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| Police keep watch on Capitol Hill following Wednesday's shooting in nearby Alexandria, Virginia [Reuters] |
Rattansi said the congressman and the two police officers are
reportedly in a stable condition, but there is no news on the other
casualties.
It was unclear whether lawmakers were targeted for their profession.
Scalise's position as whip in the Republican-controlled House makes him one of the most senior figures in Congress. He is a representative from Louisiana.
In a televised address shortly after the attack, US President Donald Trump called for unity.
Trump said that despite political differences, everyone should agree that "we are blessed to be Americans" and strongest when "we work together for the common good".
Al Jazeera's Elizondo said the shooting had "rattled" Washington.
"There were many lawmakers here and people are keenly aware this could have been much worse," he said.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
Scalise's position as whip in the Republican-controlled House makes him one of the most senior figures in Congress. He is a representative from Louisiana.
In a televised address shortly after the attack, US President Donald Trump called for unity.
Trump said that despite political differences, everyone should agree that "we are blessed to be Americans" and strongest when "we work together for the common good".
Al Jazeera's Elizondo said the shooting had "rattled" Washington.
"There were many lawmakers here and people are keenly aware this could have been much worse," he said.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
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