A photo taken by a bystander shows the scene of the shooting. (Joseph Miscavige/Twitter)
President Donald Trump has issued a statement on the shooting at a GOP Congressional baseball team practice Wednesday morning in Alexandria, Virginia. You can read it below:
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.
The shooting was reported before 8 a.m. Wednesday. Rep. Mo Brooks, of Alabama, who witnessed the shooting, told CNN five people were shot, including the gunman. Alexandria Police said on Twitter that the gunman is in custody and an investigation is ongoing.
He said he believed the gunman was a white male, who was behind the third base dugout when he opened fire.
“The gun was a semiautomatic (rifle),” Brooks told the news network. “It continued to fire at different people. You can imagine, all the people on the field scatter.”
Brooks said Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Majority WHIP, was shot while he was at second base. A staffer and two Capitol Police officers were also shot while the officers engaged in a gun battle with the shooter.
Trump also tweeted about the shooting, calling Scalise a “true friend and patriot,” who was “badly injured, but will fully recover.”
Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.
Several shots were fired during the incident, which witnesses said lasted about 10 to 15 minutes.
Scalise was conscious and alert when he was taken to a hospital, witnesses said.
You can read more about the incident at the link below: