What to Know
- House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and others, including Capitol Police officers, were wounded when a gunman opened fire in Alexandria
- It was at a practice for Republican members of the congressional baseball team; the Democrats practice on another field
- The gunman has been identified as James Hodgkinson, from Illinois; he was shot by police and died at a hospital, the president said
The NYPD has dispatched "critical response" units to City Hall and other sensitive targets in New York City as a precaution after a gunman opened fire at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia Wednesday, wounding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several others, including police.
John Miller, NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counter-terrorism, made the announcement at an unrelated briefing. Security enhancements are customary in such situations, and law enforcement officials say there is no known threat to city politicians connected to the Alexandria shooting.
Dramatic photos from the scene of the shooting show a huge emergency response as officers hurry bystanders to safety. Witnesses including many Congress members -- described a terrifying scene, with a gunman who reloaded while standing on the field and the shot congressman "screaming for help."
The injured include Scalise, two Capitol Police officers and Zack Barth, an aide to Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, was also shot, the congressman’s office said. All are expected to survive.
The gunman, identified as James Hodgkinson, an Illinois man in his late 60s, was shot by police responding to the scene. President Trump said later Wednesday he died at the hospital.