At a press conference this afternoon, local and federal authorities provided details about the events following this morning's shooting at a stadium where members of a congressional baseball team were practicing.
Just after 7 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, Alexandria Police officers responded to a report of shots fired, arriving at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park near 400 East Monroe Ave. in Alexandria, Va., according to a joint statement released by the FBI and the Alexandria Police Department.
According to the statement, members of a congressional baseball team were practicing at the field, Multiple members of Congress were at the field, participating in a congressional team practice. United States Capitol Police officers were also on scene, the report states.
A few minutes later, according to the report, law enforcement shot at a man authorities later identified as James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill. Hodgkinson was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Five people with gunshot wounds, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, one congressional staffer, one lobbyist, and the shooter, were transported by helicopter to local hospitals with gunshot wounds. A second congressman with minor injuries and was transported by a medic unit, reports state. Scalise was reported to be in critical condition Wednesday afternoon.
Another Capitol Police officer was transported to the hospital in a police cruiser for minor injuries and has been released.
FBI officials said the agency is investigating Hodgkinson, looking into his associates, whereabouts, social media impressions, and potential motivations. The ATF is also running a trace on two weapons, including a rifle and a handgun. Authorities including FBI Evidence Response Team, ATF, and Alexandria Police Department, are still collecting evidence at the scene, and FBI Springfield and St. Louis Evidence Response Teams are searching the subject’s home in Belleville, Ill.
Anyone with information about Hodgkinson is asked to call the FBI 24-hour access line at 1-800-CALL-FBI and select Option 1.
