Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown tells media that the investigation of a Wednesday morning attack on Congressmen will be handed to the FBI.
At about 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, a gunman opened fire on a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, aimed at a group of republican congressmen, including three Texas GOP congressmen: Roger Williams of Austin, Joe Barton of Dallas-Fort Worth, and Kevin Brady of The Woodlands. House majority whip Steve Scalise and an aide from William's staff were hit and are in the hospital in critical condition, according to the Associated Press. The men were practicing for Thursday's congressional baseball game.
"All of a sudden we heard a very loud shot. The gunman was over by the third base dugout with a clear view of the field," Sen. Jeff Flake from Arizona, told CBS.
According to the AP, House Republican Steve Scalise was warming up on second base when a bullet struck him. Scalise then dragged himself towards the outfield to put distance between himself and the shooter.
Bystander Katie Filous was out with her dogs near the field when she heard "a lot of shots, probably more than 20," she told the AP. However, Flake said that "50 would be an understatement. He had a lot of ammo."
The gunman, who's since been identified as 66-year-old James Hodgkinson of Illinois, was shot by by Scalise's security staffers, not before injuring additional officers. Hodgkinson has died from his injuries.
Rep. Williams tweeted that Zack Barth, his wounded staffer, is expected to make a full recovery.
The incident forced Congress to delay a 10 a.m. House hearing on a GOP-led bill to deregulate gun silencers.
