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Top Republican Steve Scalise wounded in multiple shooting Steve Scalise: Republican House whip shot and wounded
(35 minutes later)
A top US Republican and aides have been shot during baseball practice in Virginia, a congressman says. A top US Republican was among five people wounded in a "multiple shooting" during baseball practice in an upmarket Washington DC suburb.
Police in the upmarket Washington DC suburb of Alexandria said they were investigating a "multiple shooting" and a suspect was in custody. House of Representatives Majority Whip Steve Scalise was hit but expected to survive after the early morning attack at a park in Alexandria, Virginia.
Alabama lawmaker Mo Brooks told CNN House of Representatives Majority Whip Steve Scalise and aides were shot. Two police officers who engaged in a shootout with the attacker were reportedly among the wounded.
Police tweeted they were "investigating multiple shooting 400 block E Monroe St. Suspect believed in custody". Police said the gunman was among five people taken to hospital.
The lawmakers were practising for the annual congressional ballgame between Democrats and Republicans, which was scheduled to be played on Thursday at Nationals Park, home of Major League Baseball franchise the Washington Nationals.
An apparent eyewitness on Twitter, @ben_childers, said Wednesday morning's gunfire rang out at the YMCA baseball fields, by the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.
Latest updates
Local media report there is a major police presence after the attack.
Alexandria police tweeted: "Suspect is in custody and not a threat."Alexandria police tweeted: "Suspect is in custody and not a threat."
The lawmakers were practising for the annual congressional ballgame scheduled to be played on Thursday at Nationals Park, home of Major League Baseball team the Washington Nationals.
An eyewitness, Benjamin Childers, said on Twitter that Wednesday morning's gunfire rang out at the YMCA baseball fields, by the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.
Latest updates
Local media report a major police presence at the crime scene.
'Killing field'
President Donald Trump said in a statement: "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."
White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that the president was being updated on the attack.
Who is Steve Scalise?
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, texted Fox News to say that Mr Scalise had been shot in the hip and would survive.Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, texted Fox News to say that Mr Scalise had been shot in the hip and would survive.
He said someone had used a belt as a tourniquet on him.He said someone had used a belt as a tourniquet on him.
President Donald Trump said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy." Texas congressman Roger Williams' office said he was not shot, but one of his staff was wounded in the attack.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that the president was being updated on the attack. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul told Fox News: "I do believe without the Capitol Hill police it would have been a massacre.
Representative Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, told CNN he was on third base during the baseball game when he saw Mr Scalise, who was on second base, shot. "We had no defence at all. The field was basically a killing field."
He said everyone on the field scattered as 50 to 100 shots were fired. He said they were lucky that Mr Scalise was present because he has a security detail owing to his congressional seniority.
Mr Brooks said a gunfight ensued between the shooter and the congressmen's police security detail. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, told CNN he was on third base during the baseball game when he saw Mr Scalise, who was on second base, shot.
CNN reports that two police officers were also shot. He said Mr Scalise had a bullet hole in his calf, and was saying: "I'm OK, I'm OK."
Mr Brooks said everyone on the field scattered as 50 to 100 shots were fired.
He said a gunfight had ensued between the shooter and the congressmen's police security detail, who were armed with pistols.
Mr Brooks said the shooter was armed with a rifle and was "blasting away" from behind the dugout, using it for protection.Mr Brooks said the shooter was armed with a rifle and was "blasting away" from behind the dugout, using it for protection.
The congressman, who said he took refuge behind a batting cage, described the attacker as a middle-aged white male "a little on the chubby side".The congressman, who said he took refuge behind a batting cage, described the attacker as a middle-aged white male "a little on the chubby side".
Mr Brooks said Senator Rand Paul, of Kentucky, and congressmen Chuck Fleischmann, of Tennessee, Ron DeSantis, of Florida, and Jeff Duncan, of South Carolina, were among 15-25 lawmakers at the game. Mr Brooks said congressmen Chuck Fleischmann, of Tennessee, Ron DeSantis, of Florida, and Jeff Duncan, of South Carolina, were among 15-25 lawmakers at the game.
Mr Brooks told CNN that Ohio congressman Brad Wenstrup, who is a medical doctor, provided medical care at the scene.
Asked by a CNN host if the attack was deliberate, Mr Brooks replied: "Well, it sure as heck wasn't an accident!"Asked by a CNN host if the attack was deliberate, Mr Brooks replied: "Well, it sure as heck wasn't an accident!"
He added: "People know this is Republican baseball team practising. You can recognise it, you can see our security detail.
"It's pretty well known in the neighbourhood. So it's not a secret that we're practising over here.
"He was going after elected officials, congressmen.""He was going after elected officials, congressmen."
Mr Brooks continued: "The only weapon I had was a baseball bat and that's not the kind of fight you want to engage in."Mr Brooks continued: "The only weapon I had was a baseball bat and that's not the kind of fight you want to engage in."
Ohio congressman Brad Wenstrup, who served in Iraq as a combat surgeon from 2005-06, provided medical care at the scene.
He told CNN the shooter eventually resorted to a pistol, having apparently used up all his rifle ammunition.
'A lot of ammo'
Arizona Senator Jeff Flake told reporters he was at bat during the shooting and the victims were "sitting ducks".
He said the attack had lasted for at least 10 minutes, adding: "He had a lot of ammo."
Mr Flake added: "There are two of his [Mr Scalise's security] detail were shot, one African-American gentleman shot in the leg and I believe he's the one that brought the shooter down.
"He ran around for quite a while with a leg wound, returning fire."
Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown said his officers had responded and engaged the shooter within three minutes.
The last member of Congress to be targeted by a gunman was Democrat Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head as she met constituents in Tucson, Arizona, in January 2011. She survived, but six others died in that incident.
Ms Giffords‏ tweeted on Wednesday: "My heart is with my former colleagues, their families & staff, and the US Capitol Police- public servants and heroes today and every day."
The top Republican in the House of Representatives, Speaker Paul Ryan, said "the hearts of the whole House" were with the victims.
One eyewitness was outraged that the gunman should have targeted a game known as the nation's pastime.
Noah Nathan told NBC News: "Baseball is America's game! You don't mess with baseball."