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Updated at 9.13pm
AMERICAN REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN Steve Scalise, one of five people shot by a gunman during practice for a charity baseball game, remainS in critical condition following surgery, the hospital treating said this evening.
“Representative Scalise was critically injured and remains in critical condition,” MedStar Washington Hospital said in a statement via Twitter. Earlier in the day his condition had been described as stable, and he had spoken by telephone with his wife.
The gunman, identified in the media as 66-year-old James T Hodgkinson, earlier died in a shootout with police.
Two members of the Capitol Police were injured but are reportedly in good condition.
Lobbyist Matt Mika, hit several times in the shooting, remains in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital.
The fifth victim, congressional aide Zack Barth, tweeted that he was in the hospital and “okay”.
Earlier this afternoon it emerged that Hodgkinson, who shot Scalise at the charity game in Alexandria, Virginia, had died, US president Donald Trump has said.
Several shots
Trump, speaking from the Diplomatic Room in the White House following the event, said that Hodgkinson had died from his injuries.
The practice was being held for a charity game between Democrat and Republican representatives.
CBS News reports that a gunman with a rifle fired several shots, and injured several people at the baseball field. Local police have said one person has been arrested.
“Five people were transported medically from the scene,” Alexandria police chief Michael Brown told a press conference.
Speaking from the White House, Trump paid respect to the men who were caught up in the incident.
“Everyone on that field is a public servant,” he said.
“Our courageous police, our congressional aides, who work so tirelessly behind the scenes with enormous devotion, and our dedicated members of congress who represent our people.
We may have our differences, but we do well in times like this to remember that everyone who serves in our nation’s capitol is here because, above all, they love our country.
Trump earlier said said he is ‘deeply saddened’ by news of the shooting, but said that Scalise would make a full recovery.
A congressional aide has said Scalise is in stable condition at George Washington University Hospital. House Speaker Paul Ryan’s office said Scalise’s wounds were not believed to be life-threatening and that a member of the security detail was also shot.
‘Not an accident’
About 25 senators and congressmen were at the practice, according to Senator Jeff Flake who told reporters some 50 shots rang out in the exchange of fire between the gunman and the lawmakers’ security detail, at around 6:30 am local time.
Flake said the suspect was a white man with dark hair, apparently in his 40s or 50s, wearing jeans and a blue shirt.
Asked whether he thought it was a random shooting, Republican Mo Brooks told CNN: “It sure as heck wasn’t an accident.”
Brooks said several other people also were hit, including two law enforcement officers.
He said that Scalise, 51, was down on the ground with what Brooks described as “a hip wound.”
“People know this is the Republican baseball team practicing,” he said. “You can tell. You can recognise many of us. You can see our security detail.
It is pretty well known at the neighborhood who those folks are on the baseball field and where we practice.
He knew who we were. I’m a former prosecutor and, yeah, he was going after elected officials, congressmen.
Another Republican representative Mike Bishop said Scalise was standing on second base when he was shot.
“I was looking right at him,” Bishop told Detroit radio station WWJ. “He was a sitting duck.”
Scalise’s office released a statement to say the congressman is now in “good spirits” and is undergoing surgery.
Alexandria Police have said that a suspect is in custody, and that victims are currently being transported to hospitals.
Speaking on CNN Republican Rand Paul described the “rapid succession of shots” which were followed by Scalise not moving.
He claimed that the only reason the practice had such strong security in the form of US Capital Police because Scalise, with such a high seniority level in congress, was there.
Other US politicians have been tweeting their support for Scalise after the news emerged.
With reporting from the Associated Press and AFP
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with _____” The most overused, anodyne and pointless sentiment ever created by mankind.
@Matty Killucan: what would you prefer?
@Dave O Keeffe: Dunno. Maybe a carefully considered response, maybe a bit of actual humanity and empathy, maybe some decisive and effective decision making. Something, anything other than this copy and paste nonsense. Politicians must have it saved as a template on their phones “……… insert victim here”
@Matty Killucan: Exactly Matty, it’s just lame virtue signalling to score social brownie points. Fed up listening to it. Thoughts and prayers won’t solve anything!!!!
@Ciaran Fairley: “Thinking is not a solution to anything”
@Neal Ireland Hello. If you’re quoting someone, you’re supposed to quote what they actually said.
@Dave O Keeffe: maybe just maybe a proper push for meaningful gun control?
@Deborah Behan: that would be great but it’s never worked before. We all remember the Breitbart headline don’t we?
@Deborah Behan: Wouldn’t count on it.. although ironically the greatest tightening of gun legislation in the last 50 years in the US took place after the Reagan shooting so you never know..
@Dave O Keeffe: for those that don’t remember: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/03/08/gabby-giffords-the-gun-control-movements-human-shield/
@Dave O Keeffe: Who could forget that revolting trashy article passed off as journalism. Shameful.
Why didn’t he shoot back? Isn’t that the advice of his masters in the NRA?
@Larry Doyle: Probably busy bleeding
Just like the teachers in Sandy Hook of whom this man’s fellow travellers suggested were at fault for not being armed when they too came under attack.
@Larry Doyle: Was Sandy hook not a hoax to them?
@Rob Cahill: in the same way that Comey was both a leaker and a liar.
@Alex: “I ain’t got time to bleed”
@Larry Doyle: Because he was white.
@Larry Doyle: That’s some classy gloating
@Larry Doyle: Oh, he has people for that.
Crazy Democrat spurred on by a Trump hating media, perhaps?
@Beachmaster: or a crazy right wing trump voter with bad aim perhaps?
@Larry Doyle: Eh doubtful
@Mark Mcloughlin: Law of averages would dictate that it’s either Islamic terrorism or ultra right wing gun nut…
@Mark Mcloughlin: Why is it doubtful? – Republicans have notoriously bad aim – (remember Cheney going quail hunting?)
@Mark Mcloughlin: It’s really nice to see you calm and relaxed as the last time you were going absolutely bonkers on here :-) They’re saying that the shooter looks like a middle aged white guy ..
@Larry Doyle: The shooter has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson. A Bernie Sanders supporter.
@Larry Doyle: or a disappointed Trump voter – there will be many more. With guns.
@Beachmaster: apparently Bernie Sanders supporter whipped into frenzy with all the fake news hysteria.. being reported now he asked was it democrats or republicans on field before he opened fire.. he was avid fan of the Russian conspiracy theories that the media have been pushing.
@LITTLEONE:
I will never, ever, ever understand how someone who is so consistently left wing in respect of all Irish issues has so much sympathy for the most right wing US president ever.
He literally stands for everything you hate.
Slash corporate tax, defund universal healthcare, anti immigration, racist…..
Why in God’s name do you defend him?
And by the way, blaming a “Bernie Sanders supporter whipped into frenzy with all the fake news hysteria” is ludicrous.
Who is to blame for Gabi Giffords shooting? Republicans?
@LITTLEONE: it does appear that he was opposed to Republicans and Trump.
@LITTLEONE:
Who is to blame for Jo Cox’s murder?
Brexiteers?
@Brinster: I only wrote what’s being reported on media in the states in regards to his Facebook page and social media accounts.. so instead of having a pop at me for saying what I have been seeing reported . Maybe you should watch before you start throwing s,it at me.
@Charlie Kavanagh: you Need to find some manners and stop being so bloody rude.. watch some news and catch up before you start throwing out nonsense at people.. never came across such loud mouthed , bad tempered person as you..
@LITTLEONE: snowflake much?
@Charlie Kavanagh: that’s a great description of yourself.. me I could name more that describes you but your comments speak for themselves. The type of person you are ..
@LITTLEONE: wow…was that a “I know you are but what am I defence?” Hahahahahaha… grow the fk up
@Charlie Kavanagh: Careful, Charlie. He’ll report you for your comments.
@LITTLEONE: Ah come on – you are on most Trump articles defending him.
@Larry Doyle: try again
@Beachmaster: no, loony allowed to buy arms by GOP policy of allowing felons to carry guns
You know the shooter is a white American when Donald comes out with a calm, measured response. If he was brown he’d be in full terror tweet mode right now readying the troops.
@The Guru: agree,also they forgot to mention the man’s religion it should have been”the shooter was a christian white man….”they always do when the perpetrator is a muslim person then again i could be wrong!!
@Frederic Slimane: How do you know he’s Christian, was he screaming “Jesus is Great” during the attack?
@Beachmaster: i used christian but i could have used jewish,Buddhist……the choice is plenty i was not purposely targeting christians sorry if it seemed that way but i bet you that in a similar scenario if the culprit had been muslim it would have definitely been pointed out to the readers,my point is why when a terror incident happens the perp’s religion is deemed relevant enough only when he/she is muslim??
@Frederic Slimane: Because they say they’re doing it on behalf of their religion.
The rise of left wing terrorism is worrying.
@Beachmaster: As is the rise of all terrorism and the changing nature of it. I watched the documentary last night on the killing of Jo Cox MP. It was chilling.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: i watched it too,it was both shocking&moving!!
@Beachmaster: How on earth do you know this is Left Wing terrorism?
You dont.
the man could been completely out of his mind and thought he was shooting lizard people
Murica fcukkkk yeh!!
Disgusting comments on here from wannabee comedians.Gunman asked if Republicans or Democrats on the pitch when told it was republicans started firing.Good work by security to take nutter down.Prez Trump has a lot of work to do even on his birthday!
@John Dillon: shocking if true, where did you see that?
@John Dillon: adults usually work on their birthday.
@Dave O Keeffe: Fox News!
@Larry Doyle: You are by definition an adult? A sentence starts with a capital letter Nancy Griffin.
@Dave O Keeffe: Probably just in the comment he just posted, which is now on the internet, and therefore must be true.
@John Dillon: Your lack of consistency is exposed by your own use of both capital and lower case when starting to spell republican in your comment above.
@John Dillon: I rest my case. Until confirmed by a genuine source it’s not true, an entertainment organisation does not count
@Dave O Keeffe: Well Daveboy your case rested enough. All fake news eh???
@John Dillon: I’m glad you’ve found some joy in this
The Left in America is becoming more and more unhinged, now violently so.
@John Reid: He was right-wing.
@Siouxsie Dumbtime: Nope
@Beachmaster: AGAIN – how do you know what the hell he was?
@Dave Harris: There are people commenting on his FB page
@Dave Harris: Because I don’t rely solely on The Journal for information.
2nd amendment at work?
If only everyone at that game would have been armed ….
Will be the typical nonsense spouted by the NRA sycophants
@Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: That line is only used when democrats or children are killed, on this occasion there will be no statement from the NRA.
@Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: The shooter has been shot by a person with a gun so….
@Clever Jake: No knives and van in the first place, equates to no running over and stabbing.
@Clever Jake: Anyone who doesn’t agree with Clever Jake is a bigot. I’m not Trump supporter btw, I just like to call out hypocrisy.
@Clever Jake: I condemn Islamic extremists, FGM, Sharia Law, not Muslims.
I condemn the Merkel’s policy of allowing millions of unvetted migrants to enter Europe and then threaten member states if they don’t accept them.
I also don’t support Chelsea FC but don’t feel the need to go on about it much.
@Beachmaster: and who was the person with a gun that shot the shooter? A trained professional by any chance?
@Beachmaster: He was shot by a trained professional, numbnuts, not some hick.
Great news - James T. Hodgkinison, a 66-year-year old Bernie Sanders supporting terrorist from Belleville, Illinois shot dead by Scalises African American security agent even though he was injured himself.Happy Birthday Prez Trump!
@John Dillon: So what if he supported Bernie Sanders ? What has that got to do with the price of bananas today ? Anyway,wasn’t it Trump who was promoting violence at his rallies ,yes? Oops,I nearly forgot,sure he also said that he could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue and he wouldn’t lose votes..
Where were the “good guys with guns” to Stop the bad guy with a gun?
@Luke Campbell: He was shot before he could hurt or kill many more. Do try and keep up.
@Beachmaster: he still shot severl people first. But they dont count or?
@Luke Campbell: You do realise Minority Report wasn’t a documentary?
@Beachmaster: He was shot by a trained professional, not a civilian, thicko. I can’t wait til your ma takes your computer away again.
Any of the news channels called him a terrorist yet?
I notice President Trump didn’t condemn the shooting or mention terrorism? Funny how the white terriorists like Adam Lanza, Dylan Roof and Timothy McVeigh always get captured alive.
@Siouxsie Dumbtime: You are obviously clueless, Lanza committed suicide cough cough
@Shane Moynihan: shooter is dead…
@Shane Moynihan: Lanza was caught alive and had a trial and was imprisoned, cough cough.
@Shane Moynihan: Apologies, I got mixed up with the Aurora shooter James Holmes.
@Siouxsie Dumbtime: This argument that white people are somehow escaping death from the justice system is nonsense, Lanza killed himself and the other two you mentioned were executed by the state after a trial.
@Malachi: Slight correction – Dylann Roof has been sentenced to death and currently awaits execution – the point stands.
@Malachi: I have a feeling that her point is before the justice system kicks in…
@Siouxsie Dumbtime: hi grainne same ol comments as usual
Trump antagonises and provokes an otherwise law abiding 66 year old man to commit a suicidal and heinous attack.
The attack was wrong, cowatdly senseless, indefensible and appalling. It cannot be justified or excused.
It is an indication of how alienated many Americans are from their current President and from his administration. For every person mad enough to resort to armed attack, there are millions of others seething in a quite and internalized rage.
The evolution of a Tony Daly post:
(1) It’s Trump’s fault.
(2) Some platitudes which give plausible deniability.
(3) It’s Trump’s fault.
@Tony Daly: A man who volunteered for Bernie’s campaign shoots GOP house members and its somehow Trump’s fault ? hahaha are you joking or just ignorant Tony? Honest question
@Tony Daly:
What nonsense to suggest that an otherwise sane person is so antagonised by The Donald that he attempts multiple murders.Alienation in the American political system is not new – what else elected Trump?. Middle America has for years seethed at the Washington cosy cartel and Trump gave it an outlet for its frustration. Trumpism may be wrong, but the Clinton/Obama axis had lost touch with the people. Hilary had over 90% of the media with her but she failed to connect with the small people.
“THE PERSON WHO shot a top US congressman while practising for a charity baseball game in Alexandria, Virginia, has died”
That opening line is a shambles. Suggests the shooter was practicing.
I assume the suspect is white not a word of terrorism or him being shot dead.
Frank Underwood got shot(S1)? Truth is stranger than fiction.
Still the most effective example of swamp draining since Trump took office.
have your say