Congressional Baseball Game Practice Marred By Rifle Shooting

An Illinois man was shot and killed by police Wednesday after opening fire on a practice field for the annual Congressional Baseball Game, wounding five people, including U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana).

James T. Hodkinson, 66, was killed in a shootout with police, President Donald Trump said.

Scalise was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot at a baseball field in a Washington D.C. suburb, according to several reports.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program that he heard as many as 50 shots at the practice field in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Virginia.

He told CNN "it would have been a massacre" had police not been present for what was a practice by the GOP team.

Police Among Wounded

CBS News said it learned the shooting happened in the dugout at a field.

Four people were confirmed shot; the network quoted an unidentified congressional source as saying two Capitol Hill police officers, the gunman and Scalise comprised the wounded. It said Scalise was struck in the hip. Other reports said a fifth person, a congressional aide, may have been among the wounded.

America's Pastime

The teams were practicing ahead of Thursday’s game, which has been played since 1909, according to the contest’s website. The game, at $20 a ticket, raises money for charities such as The Washington Literacy Center, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation.

The two sides have identical records of 39-39-1. U.S. Rep John Tener of Pennsylvania, a former professional baseball player, organized the inaugural baseball game, which was interrupted from time to time by such events as The Great Depression and World War II.