©Natalie Keshing
Editor-in-Chief
http://www.natswritings.com
Today’s Account of The Shooting Targeting Republican Congressmen and Senate Officials ~ President Trump called the shooting a very brutal, brutal attack. ~ Fox News Video
House Minority Whip Congressman Steve Scalise was shot at a baseball field practicing for a bi-partisan charity event and was reported to be in critical condition at 5:05 Eastern Time.
LET THIS COUNTRY START HEALING AND START GETTING ALONG. ~ Natalie
Shooting at a baseball park in Alexandria, Virginia where a bi-partisan charity event baseball practice was taking place. There were 50 to 70 gun shots heard. After viewing the video I counted at least 70 gun shots. The shooting started at 07:09 Eastern Time.
The gunman was James T. Hodgkinson a 66-year-old from Illinois, who was initially in custody but soon died from gunshot wounds.
The shooter had asked Representative Jeff Duncan, a Republican of South Carolina, “Who are those guys on the field?” and then asked “Are they Republicans or Democrats?” Shortly after, the suspect came out of the third base dugout on the baseball field and started shooting. Officials indicated that had the gunman gotten through the chain-link fence this could have turned into a massacre. The coach’s 10-year-old son was present and many people ran to protect him and hide him in the dugout.
Five people were transported to hospitals from this morning’s shooting. Representative Steve Scalise was shot in the hip and spoke with his wife before going into surgery. Rep Scalise layed on the baseball field for ten minutes until help could come and tied a tourniquet around his leg near his hip. Rep Scalise is in critical condition.
There was an extraordinary heroic effort and response from the US Capital police which prevented further harm to those on the baseball field. The US Capital police charged toward the gunman to bring him down. One US Capital female police officer Krystal Griner was shot in her foot and she continued to shoot at the gunmen. It was reported Griner was in surgery and in good condition. Virginia Governor McAuliffe gave a big thanks for the US Capital Police who responded immediately to confront and stop the shooter and protect those on the field.
Zachary Barth, a staffer for Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) was also hit on the chest. He has been reported to be in good condition and is expected to fully recover.
A reporter asked Tim Slater, an FBI agent, if this was a deliberately planned shooting or an act of terrorism. Slater responded, “It’s too early in the investigation to share this kind of information.”
It does appear this shooting was politically motivated stemming from the deep dissension and political opposition since President Trump has taken office. All this added to the recent violent riots and demonstrations at Berkeley.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said, “I pray for President Trump that his Presidency will be successful and for President Trump’s family’s safety.” Later in the day Pelosi said, “Steven you and others are deeply in our prayers, we count the minutes until you return.”
Newt Gingrich said, “Very sobering. Very grateful that no one working for Congress was killed. Our prayers go out to Steve Scalise and his family. This has all been a part of a pattern. You’ve had an increasing intensity of hostility on the left. If people say they openly support President Trump, they get death threats. You have a comedian holding up the President’s head in blood. You have a play that shows the President’s assassination.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan said, “We are united in our shock. We are united with our anguish. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.”
Some are saying this is a wake up call for Washington and it’s time to lead by example and come together.
President Trump was very calm and concerned for everyone. The President said he called Rep Scalise’s wife Jennifer to express his full support and if Scalise’s wife and their two children need anything the country is there for them. “Americans are praying for you and your family.” He called and thanked Chief Matthews for the US Capital security detail for such enormous courage they showed and he admired them for that.
The FBI will start investigating this case and find out who the shooter’s associates were and all other pertinent information available through social media and those who knew the gunman. James T. Hodgkinson had volunteered for the Bernie Sanders campaign and belonged to several political groups on Facebook. Bernie Sanders expressed that he is sickened by this despicable act.
Our prayers go out to Congressman Scalise and his family and we wish all those wounded in this brutal attack a speedy recovery.
Natalie Keshing
Editor-in-Chief
Natswritings.com