Hodgkinson, who had been living in his van in Alexandria for the past few months, had posted anti-Trump rhetoric on his Facebook page and had written letters to his hometown newspaper blaming Republicans for what he considered an agenda favoring the wealthy.
Authorities also confirm Hodgkinson legally purchased a 9 mm handgun and an assault-style rifle from licensed firearms sellers. The gunman, who has not been identified, was shot by police who responded to the scene.
Rep. Jeff Duncan of SC said he had just left the practice and encountered the apparent gunman in the parking lot before the shooting.
© 2017 The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation and did so only on condition of anonymity.
"I served with many of these congressmen, they're my friends, including Rep. Steve Scalise, who is seriously wounded - but I can say with confidence that he continues to receive the best possible medical care".
The suspect, identified as 66-year-old James Hodgkinson, succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during rounds of fire with law enforcement.
Scalise was shot in the hip and hospitalized in critical condition, MedStar Washington Hospital Center tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
It was unclear whether he had emerged from surgery as of mid-day Thursday.
Scalise, 51, the No. 3 House Republican leader, was first elected in 2008. She noted that she has received numerous threats herself over the years, and is now the target of millions of dollars in negative ads in a House district in Georgia where a hard-fought special election will take place next week.
She said Republican vitriol and caricatures of her have resulted in "calls to my home constantly, threats in front of my family, really predicated on their comments and their paid ads". He participated in practices to lend a hand for love of the game in general and the Congressional Baseball Game in particular. Mika requires assistance to breath and will need more surgery.
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"It's been more hard than people even thought at the time", Trump said after leaving MedStar Washington Hospital Center. "It's been - he's in some trouble, but he is a great fighter and he is going to be okay, we hope", he said at a White House event.
Trump ended his remarks on Scalise by noting his shooting may have the silver lining of ending divides in American politics: "And Steve in his own way", Trump said, "may have brought some unity to our long divided country".
"The security detail saved a lot of lives", he said. "He is grateful for the fearless actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues", his office revealed in a previous statement.
Separately, Republicans also met behind closed doors before leaving Washington for the week.
United States vice president Mike Pence visited Mr Scalise on Thursday morning.
Representatives for MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Scalise offered no updates on his condition on Thursday morning.
President Donald Trump visited Scalise in the hospital, writing on Twitter, "Just left hospital".
The team roster shows Scalise was the only member of the Louisiana congressional delegation at the practice. Democrats have won seven of the last eight games, bringing the overall series to an even 39-39-1 (the teams played multiple times in some years). They were in good spirits despite the heat and humidity as they prepared for the congressional baseball match that pits Republicans against Democrats.
The shooting occurred around 7 a.m. Wednesday at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, where the GOP representatives were practicing for an annual charity congressional baseball game, scheduled to take place Thursday night.
Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation inspect the crime scene after a shooting during a practice of the Republican congressional baseball team in Alexandria, Virginia.
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