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Version 2 Version 3
Before Shooting, Suspect Began Day at Y.M.C.A. as Usual Before Shooting, Suspect Began Day at Y.M.C.A. as Usual
(about 2 hours 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 on Thursday. WASHINGTON — James T. Hodgkinson, the man who the police say opened fire on a crowd of congressional Republicans on Wednesday, 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 on 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, 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, 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. The authorities said Mr. Hodgkinson was armed with a handgun and an SKS 7.62-millimeter semiautomatic assault rifle.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 Wednesday morning, provided new details on Thursday that helped clarify the timeline of events leading up to the attack, and it 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 Wednesday morning, provided new details on Thursday that helped clarify the timeline of events leading up to the attack, and it 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 F.B.I. was also investigating whether Mr. Hodgkinson had any links to a domestic terrorist group or to its ideology.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 on 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.Mr. Hodgkinson paid his monthly dues in recent days, the Y.M.C.A. said on 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 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 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 a.m., 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 a.m., 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.
The SKS weapon that the authorities said was used in the attack is a semiautomatic infantry rifle designed in the 1940s in the Soviet Union and reproduced in China and a handful of nations formerly aligned with Russia. It fires the same medium-powered ammunition as the first generation of Kalashnikov assault rifles, which replaced the SKS in Soviet military service.The SKS weapon that the authorities said was used in the attack is a semiautomatic infantry rifle designed in the 1940s in the Soviet Union and reproduced in China and a handful of nations formerly aligned with Russia. It fires the same medium-powered ammunition as the first generation of Kalashnikov assault rifles, which replaced the SKS in Soviet military service.
The weapon is not as accurate as many modern infantry rifles and carbines, and is not capable of automatic fire; its bullets move at a relatively slow velocity. But it has lingered as a ceremonial weapon in Russia and models from both Russia and China can be readily purchased in the United States, where it is popular with collectors. The weapon is not as accurate as many modern infantry rifles and carbines, and is not capable of automatic fire; its bullets move at a relatively slow velocity. But it has lingered as a ceremonial weapon in Russia, and models from both Russia and China can be readily purchased in the United States, where it is popular with collectors.