Congressman Steve Scalise, 4 others shot at GOP baseball practice in Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Multiple people were shot Wednesday morning including a Congressman in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, according to NBC News.

The shooting happened in the 400 block of E. Monroe Street during a GOP baseball practice for congressional Republicans. A charity baseball game was scheduled for Thursday.

Rep. Steve Scalise (R) of Louisiana's 1st congressional district and current House of Representatives Majority Whip was shot. He is listed in stable condition and undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. 

Two Capital Police officers were shot as well. Those officers were with the dignitary protection unit.

According to Alexandria police Chief Michael Brown said five people total were shot. The five injured include Scalise, two Capital Police officers, a staffer and the gunman.

In a statement, the Capitol Police say, "Out of an abundance of caution, the USCP has deployed a robust police presence throughout the Capitol Complex."

Police said the suspected shooter is in custody. President Donald Trump addressed the nation and said the shooter was killed.

In addition, Tyson Foods said employee Matt Mika, a Michigan native and director of government relations in the company's D.C. office, was shot and taken to the hospital. His condition was not immediately known.

READ: Michigan native among those shot at GOP baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia

Police say the victims, including Scalise, were transported to the hospital.

The FBI is the lead investigating agency.

Shooter identified

Federal law enforcement officials identified the suspected shooter as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois. 

Witnesses told law enforcement that when the gunman arrived at the ball field, he asked people "are these the Republicans or the Democrats" practicing.

President Trump announced Hodgkinson had died while addressing the nation.

Michigan congressman safe

Rep. Mike Bishop (R) for Michigan's 8th congressional district was at the practice and is currently in lockdown. 

READ: Michigan Congressman Mike Bishop tweets 'loan gunman opened fire on members of Congress'

Bishop says he was at home plate when the gunman approached with a rifle. 

Rep. John Bergman (R) of Michigan’s 1st District was at the practice and is safe. 

Bergman told Local 4 that Scalise was shot in the hip. He said the gunman was wearing army fatigues and didn't say anything as he fired shots. He also said he saw one of the young staffers get shot.

Rep. John Moolenaar (R) of Michigan's 4th District was also at the practice and is safe.

President responds

President Donald Trump released the following statement:

"The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected."

Trump addressed the nation lauding the "heroic actions" of the Capitol Police.

"Many lives would've been lost if not for the heroic actions of the two Capitol Police officers who took down the gunman, despite sustaining gunshot wounds during a very, very brutal assault," Trump said at the White House, announcing the gunman had died.

Trump wished a quick recovery to those that were injured.

"We can all agree that we are blessed to be Americans," the president added. "Our children deserve to grow up in nation of safety and peace and that we are strongest when we are unified and when we work together for the common good."

Rand Paul: Capitol Police prevented 'Massacre'

Sen. Rand Paul was at the baseball field and said the Scalise's security detail prevented a "massacre."

"There was a rapid succession of shots, you know five or 10 shots," Paul said on MSNBC. 

Scalise as a House leader always has Capitol Police with him as security detail. It was not immediately clear if the wounded officer was part of Scalise's detail.

"Had they not been there it would have been a massacre, because there's no escaping a guy you know if he's got several hundred bullets and we had no weapons and no place to hide," he said. "So if he would have advanced on the rest of us there would have been no chance, the only chance we had was that the shots were returned by the Capitol Hill police."

Paul stressed that members of Congress aren't usually followed by an armed security detail.

Rep. Bishop spoke to Local 4 about the attack and said if it had not been for the Capital Police officers, everyone at the practice would have been killed.

READ: Rep. Bishop says shooter was 'going to take us out one-by-one'

Stay with Local 4 and ClickonDetroit.com as more information becomes available.