Rep. Steve Scalise in critical condition after surgery

Wanting to present the president as a steadying hand and avoid any distractions after the shooting, the White House then quickly canceled a presidential event on apprenticeships at the Labor Department and scuttled any plans for a briefing.

The shooter was identified as James T Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old home inspector from IL who had several minor run-ins with the law in recent years and belonged to a Facebook group called "Terminate the Republican Party". Five were injured by the gunman, including both officers and Scalise. Scalise is now reported to be in a stable condition. He is married with two children. Members of the U.S. Capitol Police were also wounded.

"Gayle and I are sending our thoughts and prayers to congressman Scalise, aides and Capitol Police officers who were injured today and their families".

Attacks on members of Congress are rare.

"Scalise was playing second base, his position, and all of a sudden we heard a loud - what sounded like a gunshot, very loud and very close".

"He's a patriot and he's a fighter". "I hope everyone in our country will take time today to reflect on how our commonalities far outweigh our differences and that we all share in the work of this grand experiment in democracy". "America is praying for you and American is praying for all of the victims of this awful shooting".

Alexandria schools were on a lock-in while police responded to the shooting.

"We are united in our shock".

The congressional baseball game, which is still set to take place on Thursday night, brings Republicans and Democrats together to face off in a friendly match for charity.

Rep. Chris Collins, R-New York, even said he'll be carrying a gun in his pocket "from this day forward". The annual game has been played since 1909, and McSally said lawmakers applauded the announcement at an all-members meeting. He was shot in the hip by a gunman with a rifle while at a congressional baseball practice. Williams tweeted Barth was "receiving medical attention but is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery".

The Capitol Police officers who were injured are "in good condition and have not suffered any life-threatening injuries at this point", Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said at a news conference. Someone else yelled "take cover". Jeff Flake said. The 51-year-old Scalise, serving his fifth congressional term, dragged himself 10 to 15 yards into the outfield to try to get away, Flake said, leaving a bloody trail. Once they were able, Sen.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup, of OH, a doctor and member of the U.S. Army Reserve who served as a military surgeon in Iraq, rendered medical assistance to Scalise at the scene, Flake said. Scalise apologized for the speech and said he was unaware of the group's racial philosophy when he agreed to speak as a state legislator. He was wounded in a gunfight with Capitol Hill police armed with pistols who were at the scene, lawmakers said. "Had they not been there it would've been a massacre", Sen. "He's shooting back across the in field at the man with the rifle". Only the congressional leaders have security details.

The shooting occurred around 7 a.m. ET in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C., and about 8 miles from Capitol Hill.

He was watching practice, LaVor said, when "I happened to look over, I saw the gunman, white male, behind a chain-link fence, behind third base". "Those aren't good odds", Brooks said. "It continued to fire at different people".

"It's not easy when you see people around you being shot and you don't have a weapon yourself", Brooks added.

Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who sought the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, said he had been told that Hodgkinson had served as a volunteer with his campaign.

"Trump is Guilty & Should Go to Prison for Treason, " Hodgkinson wrote.

"I am safe", Duncan began in his Facebook post. Sanders said he was "sickened by this despicable act".

"Let me be as clear as I can be". "I saw the shooter clearly with his rifle, aimed and shooting around one corner of a building", he said in a video statement. "The security detail saved a lot of lives because they attacked the shooter". He said that he's had conversations with others who admit that they dial up the partisan divide as a means of convincing voters back home to stick with them come the next election.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragedy". We are all imperfect. But we do not shed our humanity when we enter this chamber.

The House made a decision to not hold any votes on legislation Wednesday, and many hearings were delayed. "It was an abundance of caution". I don't know who first did it. Giffords resigned from Congress and became an activist for gun restrictions.