U.S. president Donald Trump has visited critically-ill party whip Steve Scalise, who was shot by a rifle-wielding attacker as he practised for a charity baseball game. Throughout the meeting, leaders of both parties sat together.The shooting episode itself was an absolute negative.The 10-year-old son of one congressman was whisked into the dugout, out of harm's way under a bench as Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, crawled into the outfield grass after being shot in the hip.
An acquaintance of the man who shot at a Republican baseball practice on Wednesday morning said he was "shocked" to hear about the incident.
The president was accompanied by White House doctor Ronny Jackson.
Authorities say James Hodgkinson from IL opened fire Wednesday morning on a group of republican lawmakers, as they practiced for an annual congressional baseball game in Virginia.
The assailant, who had nursed grievances against Mr Trump and the Republican Party, fought a gun battle with police before he was shot and later died.
Colleagues said Scalise dragged himself away from the infield leaving a trail of blood as they rushed to his assistance.
Matt Mika, a lobbyist for Tyson Foods and a former congressional staff member, also was listed in critical condition following surgery.
Two Facebook profiles allegedly belonging to Hodgkinson were filled with passionate and sometimes angry political posts.
Steve Scalise shooting: Donald Trump says gunman James T Hodgkinson is dead
Hodgkinson owned a home improvement business but his license had lapsed previous year , the News-Democrat reported . Clair County Sheriff's Department responded to a "shots fired" call and found Hodgkinson shooting a hunting rifle.
Stephen Brennwald, an Alexandria lawyer, also saw Hodgkinson at the YMCA and said he often seemed to be staring into space.
Because of his high-ranking position, he is mandated to have an armed security detail, and it was one of his Capitol Police bodyguards, also wounded in the encounter, who shot gunman James Hodgkinson of IL, who later died in hospital.
He called President Donald Trump a traitor, and blasted the Republican party as being racist and sexist. "Their sacrifice makes democracy possible".
The shocking event left the Capitol horrified and stunned.
The gunman's brother told The New York Times that the man was upset about Trump's election and recently went to Washington to protest, but Michael Hodgkinson said he didn't know why the man stayed in the area.
"I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the Republican baseball practice this morning is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign".
"I think most of us who were classmates of his would say he was just another guy in school, and that's not to demean him in anyway, it's just that nothing particularly stood out that you would say oh this guy is a candidate for something like this", said Calhoun. The man thanked him.
"Republican and democratic lawmakers are still planning to play the charitable baseball game Thursday night in Washington". Jeff Flake of Arizona, who was at the practice. The team was taking batting practice when a gunshot rang out and chaos erupted, lawmakers on the scene said. While the top lawmakers, including Scalise, have security details, others do not and they regularly appear in public without protection. It is time for Democrats like Reps.
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