This morning’s shooting at a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia shattered what was meant to be some good old fashioned fun. Republicans were practicing for a baseball game against the Democrats to raise money for charity. It turned out to be anything but peaceful, according to Republican Congressman Mo Brooks, who was on the field when the shooting started.
“Once we got the all clear that the shooter was down, we ran out to second base where Steve Scaliese had crawled into the outfield where he was leaving a trail of blood.”
Steven Scaliese, Republican majority whip and number 3 in command in the House, was shot in the hip. He wasn’t alone. 4 others were also shot, including 2 Capitol Hill police agents.
Senator Rand Paul who was also there, says it could’ve been a massacre, and credited Capitol Hill police saying, “ I can tell you that I think with absolute certainty nobody would’ve survived without the Capitol Hill police. They saved everybody’s lives and were incredibly brave.”
The gunman, who has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson, of Bellville, Illinois, died from injuries he received in a shoot-out with police.
While the motive for the shooting was unknown, Hodgkinson’s Facebook page shows him to be a die-hard Bernie Sanders supporter and a former volunteer of his campaign. Senator Bernie Sanders responded to the news in no uncertain terms saying, “I am sickened by this despicable act and let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms.”
Other quotes from Hodgkinson’s Facebook page include: “Trump is a traitor. Trump has destroyed our democracy. It’s time to destroy Trump and company.”
Scaliese underwent surgery at George Washington University Hospital and is in stable condition. The 4 others who were shot are also expected to make full recoveries from their injuries.
Sharon Reardon, KABC News
