This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/us/politics/before-the-shooting-assailant-began-day-at-ymca-as-usual.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Before the Shooting, Assailant Began Day at Y.M.C.A. as Usual Before the Shooting, Assailant Began Day at Y.M.C.A. as Usual
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — James T. Hodgkinson, the man who police say opened fire on a crowd of congressional Republicans on Wednesday morning, began his day at the adjacent Y.M.C.A. at 5:31 a.m. and appeared to go about his normal morning routine before unleashing the attack, the Y.M.C.A. said Thursday.WASHINGTON — James T. Hodgkinson, the man who police say opened fire on a crowd of congressional Republicans on Wednesday morning, began his day at the adjacent Y.M.C.A. at 5:31 a.m. and appeared to go about his normal morning routine before unleashing the attack, the Y.M.C.A. said Thursday.
An hour and a half later, just after 7:09 a.m., the police in Alexandria, Va., received a call alerting them to gunfire outside the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Hodgkinson’s spray of bullets struck four people, the police said, including Representative Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House, who had been taking part in a morning baseball practice in an adjacent park.An hour and a half later, just after 7:09 a.m., the police in Alexandria, Va., received a call alerting them to gunfire outside the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Hodgkinson’s spray of bullets struck four people, the police said, including Representative Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House, who had been taking part in a morning baseball practice in an adjacent park.
Mr. Hodgkinson, 66, died in a firefight with police officers. Mr. Scalise was in critical condition as of Wednesday night. Mr. Hodgkinson, 66, died in a firefight with police officers. Mr. Scalise was in critical condition as of Wednesday night. The authorities said Mr. Hodgkinson was armed with a handgun and an SKS 7.62-millimeter semiautomatic assault rifle.
The Y.M.C.A., which was placed on lockdown by the police for several hours on Wednesday morning, provided new details on Thursday that helped clarify the timeline of events leading up to the attack, and offered insight into how Mr. Hodgkinson spent his final weeks in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington.The Y.M.C.A., which was placed on lockdown by the police for several hours on Wednesday morning, provided new details on Thursday that helped clarify the timeline of events leading up to the attack, and offered insight into how Mr. Hodgkinson spent his final weeks in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington.
The Y.M.C.A. statement came as the authorities continued to work on Thursday to piece together a picture of what had motivated Mr. Hodgkinson, a former home inspector from Illinois who was deeply engaged in liberal politics, to take such violent action. The Y.M.C.A. statement came as the authorities continued to work on Thursday to piece together a picture of what had motivated Mr. Hodgkinson, a former home inspector from Illinois who was deeply engaged in liberal politics, to take such violent action. The F.B.I. was also investigating whether Mr. Hodgkinson had any links to a domestic terrorist group or to its ideology.
The authorities said on Wednesday that they believed Mr. Hodgkinson had traveled from his home in Belleville, Ill., to Alexandria in late March.The authorities said on Wednesday that they believed Mr. Hodgkinson had traveled from his home in Belleville, Ill., to Alexandria in late March.
On April 4, he joined the local Y.M.C.A., where records show that over the next two months he more or less made it a home base. At the time, the authorities said, he was living out of his van.On April 4, he joined the local Y.M.C.A., where records show that over the next two months he more or less made it a home base. At the time, the authorities said, he was living out of his van.
Mr. Hodgkinson paid his monthly dues in recent days, the Y.M.C.A. said Thursday, giving him access to the building through July. But on Tuesday, he gave the workers there written notice that he was moving and would like to cancel his membership. Mr. Hodgkinson paid his monthly dues in recent days, the Y.M.C.A. said Thursday, giving him access to the building through July. But on Tuesday, he gave employees there written notice that he was moving and would like to cancel his membership.
The next morning, he showed up more or less as usual, at 5:31 a.m.The next morning, he showed up more or less as usual, at 5:31 a.m.
Y.M.C.A. staff members observed him enter an area that includes locker rooms, a pool and exercise equipment. Later, he was seen sitting in a common area, using a laptop computer on which those who interacted with him in Alexandria say Mr. Hodgkinson spent hours a day.Y.M.C.A. staff members observed him enter an area that includes locker rooms, a pool and exercise equipment. Later, he was seen sitting in a common area, using a laptop computer on which those who interacted with him in Alexandria say Mr. Hodgkinson spent hours a day.
Y.M.C.A. workers said they did not observe Mr. Hodgkinson leave the building. But by about 7:10, they heard gunshots outside and a staff member called the police.Y.M.C.A. workers said they did not observe Mr. Hodgkinson leave the building. But by about 7:10, they heard gunshots outside and a staff member called the police.
According to the statement, 45 Y.M.C.A. members and seven employees took shelter in the building, which was pierced by at least two bullets.According to the statement, 45 Y.M.C.A. members and seven employees took shelter in the building, which was pierced by at least two bullets.