A top Republican lawmaker was shot at and several Congressional aides were injured as a rifle-wielding gunman opened fire while they were practising for an annual baseball game between lawmakers in a Washington suburb, in an apparent “deliberate attack”.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot in hip during the practice at a field in Alexandria, Virginia by the yet-to-be-identified rifle-wielding man, who was shot dead by the policeof a Republican baseball team at a field in Alexandria, Virginia.
Scalise, 51, is said to be in stable condition, his aides said. A second congressman Roger Williams was also injured, but it is unclear if he was shot or injured in some other way.
“Five people were transported medically from the scene,” Alexandria police chief Michael Brown told a Press conference. The gunman was shot at by the Capitol Police. He has been apprehended and taken to a local hospital.
About 25 senators and congressmen were practicing for more than a century old annual Congressional Baseball Game scheduled for June 15 at Nationals Park when the shooting took place.
According to a senator, some 50 shots rang out in the exchange of fire between the gunman and the lawmakers’ security detail. The suspect was a white man with dark hair, apparently in his 40s or 50s, wearing jeans and a blue shirt, he said.
The CNN quoting congressional and law enforcement sources said the shooting appears to be a “deliberate attack”. The shooting that lasted about 10 minutes with Congressmen being the target has sent shocked waves across the country.
President Donald Trump said, “The Vice-President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely.”
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected,” Trump said in a statement.