(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Five people, including the House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, were shot at a GOP Congressional baseball practice on the morning of Wednesday, June 14 by a gunman who hid behind the dugout.
Scalise was shot in the hip. The gunman reportedly fired 50 to 100 shots before he was shot by a security guard.
The shooting took place at around 6:30 AM at a practice field in Alexandria, Virginia, where the politicians were practicing for a charity match which was supposed to take place on Thursday at Nationals Park.
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via The Hill:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that he heard as many as 50 shots. Paul described seeing shots land near aides who had taken cover on the ground.
One staffer, he said, scrambled over a fence to get away from the fire. Paul credited Capitol Police, who were there to protect Scalise, with saving lives.
Two Capitol Police officers on protective detail were also reportedly shot in the incident. The “multiple shooting” was reported in the 400 block of E. Monroe Street in Alexandria, Va., according to police.
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The suspect is “believed in custody,” police said. Alexandria Police have advised people to stay away from the area.
Republican Rep. Mo Brooks caught a brief glimpse of the shooter and described him as a white, skinny, middle-aged male. Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis said the shooter asked if they were Republican or Democrat before opening fire.
About Steve Scalise
Scalise is the Republican majority whip in the House of Representatives, the congressman responsible for counting votes and maintaining party discipline.
Prior to his congressional tenure, Scalise served for four months in the Louisiana State Senate and twelve years in the Louisiana House of Representatives. On June 19, 2014, Scalise was elected by his Republican colleagues to serve as Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives. He assumed office on August 1. He is the first Louisianian in the Majority Whip’s position since Democrat Hale Boggs of Louisiana’s 2nd congressional district held the position from 1962 to 1971. In 2017, Scalise became the dean of the Louisiana Congressional delegation upon the retirement of former senator David Vitter.
