Gunman Opens Fire On U.S Congressmen

A gunman on Wednesday opened fire on members of United State’s Congress during a baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, Police say.

The officials said the shots wounded several people including House of Representatives Majority Whip Steve Scalise, one of his staff, a police officer and two others.

Scalise, the third ranking member of House Republican leadership, was rushed to a hospital in Washington, where he underwent surgery and currently in stable condition.

President Donald Trump said the alleged gunman had been killed. Federal law enforcement sources identified the shooter as James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois.

“Congressman Scalise is a friend, and a very good friend,” Trump said in a statement from the White House,” Trump said.

“He’s a patriot. And he’s a fighter. He will recover from this assault — and Steve, I want you to know that you have the prayers not only of the entire city behind you, but of an entire nation, and frankly the entire world. America is praying for you and America is praying for all of the victims of this terrible shooting Police say a gunman opened fire on Republican members of Congress during a baseball practice near Washington early on Wednesday.”

The shooter appeared to be a white male, “a little bit on the chubby side,’’ Representative Mo Brooks told CNN, adding that he only saw the man for a second.

Brooks said he heard 10 to 20 rounds from the gunman’s rifle before the security detail returned fire.