GOP Baseball Practice Shooter James Hodgkinson, Of Illinois, Is Dead
By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 14, 2017 4:20PM
Investigators and emergency personnel gather adjacent to Eugene Simpson Field, in Alexandria, Virginia. Getty Images / Photo: Win McNamee
The shooter who opened fire at congressmen at a GOP baseball practice on Wednesday morning in Alexandria, Virginia has been identified as a 66-year-old Illinois man.
President Donald Trump said in an address that Hodgkinson had died.
Breaking News: The Virginia shooting suspect is dead, Trump said. He had been identified as James Hodgkinson. https://t.co/or5StDupee
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 14, 2017
Law enforcement officials said the gunman was James T. Hodgikinson, of Belleville, Illinois, the Washington Post reports. He was the owner of a home-inspection business, according to the Post, although his license in November of last year was not renewed.
According to the New York Times, witnesses described the shooter as a man with white hair and a beard carrying a long gun.
BREAKING: Gov't official: Suspect in shooting of congressman in Virginia identified as Illinois man named James T. Hodgkinson.
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 14, 2017
A St. Louis restaurant manager told the post on Wednesday that he befriended Hodgkinson while they both in Iowa supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. He described Hodgkinson as reserved and quiet and expressed shock at the news.
Sanders released a statement on Wednesday condemning the attack:
"Our prayers go out for a full recovery of Rep. Scalise, the congressional aides and police officers who were injured. We’ve got to stop the violence."
The FBI had not identified a motive as of Wednesday morning.
BREAKING: Suspected shooter James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois is dead. pic.twitter.com/U7dlhGiWZa
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) June 14, 2017
The shooter opened fire during a Wednesday morning baseball practice for GOP members of Congress in Alexandria, Virginia. Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of Louisiana, was among at least five people wounded in the attack.
Rep. Rodney Davis, a Republican from Illinois, was at the scene during the attack but was not injured.
"I never thought I’d go to baseball practice and get shot at,” said Davis, who said he was at the plate when the shooting started, according to the Sun-Times. Rep. John Shimkus and Rep. Darin LaHood, also players on the team, were reportedly not at Wednesday morning's practice.
Related: What We Know About The Shooter At GOP Baseball Practice