U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, was shot Wednesday morning during a House GOP practice for a congressional charity baseball game. Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico tweeted that he was also at the practice and is “alright.”
Heath Haussamen / NMPolitics.net
The U.S. Capitol Building
A man opened fire during the practice and a shootout with Capitol Police officers ensued, multiple news outlets reported. President Donald Trump said the shooter was killed. Media identified the shooter as James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill., who had publicly expressed anti-Trump and anti-GOP sentiment.
Scalise was in stable condition and undergoing surgery after being shot in the hip, his office said. Scalise was in “good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone,” according to the statement, which added that he “is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues.”
Four others, including two police officers, were also being treated for injuries, officials said. Among them was a staffer for U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, according to the Texas Tribune.
“I was present at this mornings GOP baseball practice, but am alright. Prayers for Congressman Scalise & aides that were involved,” Pearce, R-N.M., tweeted just after the shooting. He later described the harrowing incident to KOAT-TV in Albuquerque.
U.S. Rep. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said police were at the practice because Scalise was there. “Had they not been there, it would have been a massacre,” Paul said on MSNBC.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., tweeted a photo of House Democrats praying for their GOP colleagues at their own practice:
.@HouseDemocrats praying for our @HouseGOP @SenateGOP baseball colleagues after hearing about the horrific shooting. https://t.co/y2HEUaSuzd pic.twitter.com/6HBrlnxtey
— Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen (@RepKihuen) June 14, 2017
“My thoughts and prayers are with my colleagues, their staff and Capitol Police involved in this morning’s tragic shooting,” tweeted U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., a former member of the U.S. House.
“Shocking, troubling that our colleagues were under attack this morning. Truly sick that someone would turn a firearm on our nation’s leaders,” tweeted U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. “Our thoughts will be with Congressman Scalise, the Capitol Police and everyone grappling with this appalling attack.”
Pat Davis, a Democratic candidate for the Albuquerque-area First Congressional District seat in the House, used to be a capitol police officer. He tweeted that there is “no justification” for the shooting and said he was glad Pearce is OK.
Our politics should never get to this point. As a young @CapitolPolice officer, I worried every day about ppl who thought #gunviolence.. 1/2
— Pat Davis (@PatDavisNM) June 14, 2017
2/2 … was the answer to political disagreements. Thoughts w @CapitolPolice, @SteveScalise and everyone present. #EnoughIsEnough
— Pat Davis (@PatDavisNM) June 14, 2017
This article has been updated.