House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise Among Those Shot in Virginia

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Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the majority whip of the House of Representatives, is reportedly among several people who were shot in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning after a congressional softball team practice became the target of a still unidentified gunman.

CNN reports:

Rep. Mo Brooks told CNN he was on deck at a practice for the congressional baseball team when the shooting occurred. Scalise, a member of the House Republican leadership as the majority whip, appeared to have been shot in the hip and it appeared two Capitol Hill police agents were shot, Brooks added.According to both congressional and law enforcement sources, the shooting appears to be a “deliberate attack.”

Alexandria police said earlier Wednesday they were responding to a “multiple shooting” in the city. The tweet also said the suspect is in custody “and not a threat.” CNN has reached out to Capitol Hill police for details.

Watch/listen to Rep. Brooks’ account:

Other early reports indicate that though Scalise is currently in stable condition and that at least two other victims, including a congressional staffer and a capitol hill police officer, were wounded but expected to survive. At a press briefing at 9:00 am, police said that five people had been transported to local hospitals for treatment but said their names and current conditions were currently being withheld.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), among the lawmakers at the scene, spoke to MSNBC via phone after the incident. He described a scene of chaos on the baseball field after multiple shots rang out. He said the only reason Capitol Police were there was because Scalise is a House leader. Paul told the news outlet that if those officers had not been present “it would have been a massacre.”

Live cable news coverage:

Democratic lawmakers were swiftly offering their prayers and condolences to the victims:

This is a developing story… Check back for updates.

Via Common Dreams. This piece was reprinted by RINF Alternative News with permission or license.