https://tomakedoniko.blogspot.gr: ΗΠΑ: Πυροβολισμοί εναντίον μελών του Κογκρέσου

Mass Shooter Reportedly Asked ‘Are Those Republicans?’ Before Shooting Congressman, Cops. Update 2:

(ZH) — Michigan Rep. Mike Bishop tells WWJ Newsradio 950 he was attending the practice around 5:30 a.m., just outside of Alexandria, when shots rang out. He said he and his colleagues were “sitting ducks.”

“As we were standing here this morning, a gunman walked up to the fence line and just began to shoot. I was standing at home plate and he was in the third base line,” Bishop said. “He had a rifle that was clearly meant for the job of taking people out, multiple casualties, and he had several rounds and magazines that he kept unloading and reloading.”

More than 50 shots were fired, according to CBS News, with some accounts putting the number closer to 100. Four people were injured, including two Capitol Hill police officers and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. The suspect was also shot.

“The only reason why any of us walked out of this thing, by the grace of God, one of the folks here had a weapon to fire back and give us a moment to find cover. We were inside the backstop and if we didn’t have that cover by a brave person who stood up and took a shot themselves, we would not have gotten out of there and every one of us would have been hit — every single one of us,” said Bishop. “He was coming around the fence line and he was looking for all of us who had found cover in different spots. But if we didn’t have return fire right there, he would have come up to each one of us and shot us point-blank.”

Bishop was uninjured. General Jack Bergman, who represents northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and John Moolenaar, from Midland, were also at the practice; both uninjured. Democratic members of Congress were practicing at a different field, miles away.

“Two of our staff was hit, Steve Scalise was hit on second base, I watched him get hit and I couldn’t do anything to help him. We tried to get him off as fast as we could but this guy was relentless with his fire,” he said. “One of our staffers got hit in the chest and I pray for him, I just don’t know what the outcome is going to be. This is a tragic situation and frankly, it’s changed everything as I know it forever.”

View image on Twitter

ABC 7 News - WJLA
✔@ABC7News

THE LATEST of the 5 shot in Alexandria:
- Rep. Scalise
- 2 security details
- 1 staffer
- 1 lobbyist
- Suspect in custody
3:57 PM - 14 Jun 2017

9898 Retweets
3131 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

A suspect, who received at least one gunshot, is believed to be in custody. Bishop said the man didn’t speak a word.
READ MORE: Brain Study Reveals Why Society is So Easily Controlled by Politics — Differing Views Seen as 'Threats'

“He stood there silently. None of us saw him walk up,” he said. “One of our coaches had his son, his 11-year-old son — I have an 11-year-old son, too, who’s supposed to be here — and I am just, I can’t even tell you, I don’t know. Fortunately everybody’s OK. It’s just traumatic.”

* * *

Update: Virginia Police have confirmed the suspect is in custody and is no longer a threat. According to RealClearPolitics reports Rebecca Berg, Rep. Jeff Duncan plans to give a statement to police regarding a conversation he had with the shooter before leaving practice early. The man is said to have been wearing running clothes, and asked Duncan: “Are those Republicans or Democrats out there practicing?” Per source familiar.

1h

Rebecca Berg
✔ @rebeccagberg

I'm told Rep. Jeff Duncan plans to give a statement to police regarding a conversation he had with the shooter before leaving practice early

Follow

Rebecca Berg
✔@rebeccagberg

The man was wearing running clothes, asked Duncan: "Are those Republicans or Democrats out there practicing?" Per source familiar.
3:18 PM - 14 Jun 2017

1,0931,093 Retweets
618618 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

* * *

Trump has issued a statement on the shooting saying, “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy.”

View image on Twitter

ABC News
✔@ABC

JUST IN: President Trump statement on Virginia shooting: "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy.” http://abcn.ws/2rh3noB
3:34 PM - 14 Jun 2017

301301 Retweets
322322 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

Follow

Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump

Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.
3:48 PM - 14 Jun 2017

11,77411,774 Retweets
37,23037,230 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

* * *

As we detailed earlier, at least five people have been shot, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise – the third ranking Republican – and aides, during a baseball practice in Virginia Wednesday, Fox News confirmed. The shots were reported on East Monroe Street in Del Ray, Alexandria police said on Twitter at 7:30 a.m. The location was near a YMCA.
READ MORE: Watch Trump AND Clinton Contradict Themselves On Just About Everything

An injured Steve Scalise is shown being carried away on a stretcher.

More breaking headlines:
BROOKS: APPEARS SOME SECURITY DETAIL MEMBERS WERE INJURED
BROOKS SAYS SECURITY DETAIL SHOT BACK AT ASSAILANT
BROOKS: HELICOPTER LANDED ON FIELD TO TRANSPORT INJURED
BROOKS: AT LEAST 5 INJURED, INCL. SCALISE, STAFFER, 2 GUARDS
SEN. PAUL WITNESSED SHOOTING, HEARD `RAPID SUCCESSION OF SHOTS’
SEN. PAUL: `I PROBABLY HEARD 50, 60 SHOTS’
PAUL: EVERYONE LIKELY WOULD HAVE DIED IF NOT FOR CAPITOL POLICE
PAUL: LOOKED LIKE SCALISE SHOT IN LEG OR HIP
PAUL: CAPITOL HILL POLICE PREVENTED A ‘MASSACRE’ ON FIELD
SEN. PAUL SAYS DECISION WAS ‘STAY OR RUN’ DURING SHOOTING
SEN. RAND PAUL WAS IN BATTING CAGE DURING SHOOTING
INJURED GUNMAN IN CONGRESS MEMBER SHOOTING APPREHENDED: FOX

A reporter from the Huffington Post tweeted that a congressman said he “heard there was a shooting at the Congressional baseball game practice field.” ABC 7 News reported “multiple shooting” in the 400 block of E. Monroe Street.

Follow

Chad Pergram
✔@ChadPergram

#BREAKING Shooting at Congressional baseball practice. Scalise hit. Other staffers hit. Gunmen with rifle
2:48 PM - 14 Jun 2017

3,3673,367 Retweets
1,0191,019 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

“Both @POTUS & @VP are aware of the developing situation in Virginia. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted.

Follow

Sean Spicer
✔@PressSec

Both @POTUS & @VP are aware of the developing situation in Virginia. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected.
3:01 PM - 14 Jun 2017

2,8042,804 Retweets
5,9975,997 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy

Scalise, 51, is the House majority whip. He has represented Louisiana’s First Congressional District since 2008 and chairs the House Republican Study Committee. He is married with two children. Scalise’s district includes New Orleans.

READ MORE: Facebook is Categorizing You Politically -- Here's How to See What they Think of You

According a report from Rep. Mo Brooke, who said he was not shot, more than 50 rifle shots were fired.

Follow