How the harrowing shooting at a GOP congressional baseball practice in Virginia unfolded
— -- A shooting occurred Wednesday morning at a baseball field in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, where a number of Republican members of Congress and their staffers were practicing for an annual congressional charity baseball game.
Five people were injured in the shooting, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La.
The other victims were Zack Barth, a legislative correspondent for Texas Rep. Roger Williams; Matt Mika, the director of government relations for Tyson Foods; and two U.S. Capitol Police officers.
House Speaker Paul Ryan identified the two officers as Crystal Griner and David Bailey.
Police fired on the suspected shooter, James T. Hodgkinson. He died from his injuries, according to President Donald Trump.
Scalise is in stable condition and is undergoing surgery, his office said in a statement.
On Wednesday evening, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., tweeted that he met with Griner and Bailey at the hospital.
Here's a timeline of the events leading up to and following the shooting:
6:30 a.m.: The Republican baseball team held practice at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, said Williams in a statement.
Shortly after 7 a.m.: A man walked up to Reps. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., as they were getting into a car to leave the field and asked “whether it was Republicans or Democrats out there,” DeSantis told Fox News. The shooting occurred shortly afterward. It is not clear whether the man was the shooter or was connected to the shooter.
7:09 a.m.: Alexandria police received a call reporting shots fired at the park, according to Alexandria Police Department Chief Michael Brown.
During the shooting: Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., told CNN after the shooting, “I was on deck about to hit batting practice on the third base side, and I hear ‘bam.’ And I look around, and behind third base, in the third base dugout, which is a cinderblock, I see a rifle, and I see a little bit of a body.
"At the same time, I hear Steve Scalise over near second base scream. He was shot."
The shooter fired at least 50 rounds.
7:12 a.m.: Alexandria police arrived at the park, Brown said. Capitol Police officers exchanged fire with the shooter, said Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa.
7:14 a.m.: Police shot Hodgkinson, according to a joint statement released by the FBI, Capitol Police and local law enforcement.
After the shooting: Brooks and other congressmen — including Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, and Flake, used Brooks’ belt as a tourniquet to slow Scalise’s bleeding, Brooks said.
Wenstrup, who has experience as a doctor, said he performed “what you call a sweep, checking for any other wounds. When the medics came, we had better bandaging to put on the wound, kept him stable and made sure he was conscious, aware, got some hydration.”
Scalise was conscious during treatment, Wenstrup said, adding, “He was as brave as he could possibly be.” According to Wenstrup, Scalise said he was thirsty. “Obviously, you don’t know how much fluid he may be losing internally. We made sure he got as much fluid, Gatorade and water until they could get to him.”
Scalise was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he underwent surgery. Before surgery, he spoke to his wife and was in good spirits, according to a statement from his office.
8:01 a.m.: White House press secretary Sean Spicer confirmed that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence “are aware of the developing situation in Virginia,” adding, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected.”
8:23 a.m.: Alexandria police confirmed via Twitter that suspect was in custody and was no longer a threat.
8:48 a.m.: Trump tweeted, “Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
9:30 a.m.: The FBI became involved with the investigation into the shooting, said Tim Slater, the special agent who heads the bureau’s Washington field office. After the FBI confirmed that a member of Congress was involved, the agency took the lead on the investigation, working with “state and local partners.”
10:39 a.m.: Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, confirmed that Zack Barth, a legislative correspondent in his office, was shot. Barth is receiving medical attention and is expected to make a full recovery.
11:10 a.m.: Multiple law enforcement sources identified the suspected shooter as Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois.
11:36 a.m.: Trump made remarks on the shooting and said, “The assailant has now died from his injuries.” Trump called the attack a “very, very brutal assault” and said Scalise is “a patriot, and he’s a fighter.” Law enforcement later confirmed Hodgkinson died from his injuries in the hospital.
