"I'm sorry", he said to the gaggle of reporters clustered around him as he took deep breaths and tried to compose himself.
The Louisiana lawmaker, who is the No. 3 Republican in the House, remains in critical condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The shooter is identified as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois.
Security has already been tightened significantly in recent decades in response to different threats, including a shooting at the Capitol in 1998 that saw two police officers killed, and anthrax-laced letters sent to senators in 2001. He later died of his injuries, Trump told the nation from the White House. "Through their heroic actions, they prevented a massacre, saving the lives of dozens of elected Members of Congress and congressional staff", Papathanasiou said. At a press conference, President Trump says that wounded Scalise's condition is more hard than people first realized. The president then tweeted: "Rep. Steve Scalise, one of the truly great people, is in very tough shape - but he is a real fighter".
Republican Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and top Democrat Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco urged the House to pull together.
According to both congressional and law enforcement sources, the shooting appears to be a "deliberate attack".
Wednesday's shooting took place just after 11.00am GMT as the Republican team practised for the charity showdown. He denounced the violence "in the strongest possible terms".
Republican Congressman Steve Scalise has been undergoing a third surgery after he and others were shot at a baseball practice by a man hostile to the GOP. The popular and gregarious lawmaker is known for his love of baseball and handed out commemorative bats when he secured the job of House whip several years ago.
Williams said that one of his staff members said shot and is receiving medical attention. Several other people were also wounded, officials said. A former congressional aide was hospitalized.
They had gathered for the annual congressional baseball match between Republicans and Democrats which raises money for charity.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Tim Slater said it was "too early to say" whether it was an act of terrorism, or whether Scalise was targeted. Reps. John Shimkus and Darin LaHood are on the GOP team's roster but were not at the practice, their offices said.
Congressman Rodney Davis told CNN he was at bat at the time, and Scalise was in the field at second base. "He had a lot of ammo".
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., Sen.
Those who witnessed the attack say a lone gunman armed with a rifle opened fire on the Republican lawmakers as they warmed up and took batting practice.
"By him being there, he probably saved everybody else's life", he added. Barton said his son, Jack, got under an SUV.
President Donald Trump said he and Vice President Mike Pence were aware of the shooting and are "saddened by this tragedy". Congressman Mo Brooks of SC says the shooter, James Hodgkinson, carried a rifle and sprayed bullets across the baseball diamond.
The others shot and wounded were a congressional aide, a lobbyist for Tyson Foods, and a US Capitol Police officer.
The family says in a statement Thursday that Mika suffered "massive trauma" Wednesday when a gunman opened fire at a baseball practice, injuring a congressman and others.
The event raised questions about the security of members of Congress.
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