WASHINGTON _ House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., was shot at a Republican congressional baseball practice Wednesday morning by a gunman who appeared to have targeted members of Congress.
Law enforcement officials identified the shooter as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill.
The shooter died in custody as a result of wounds he suffered during the incident, President Donald Trump said in a brief statement in which he called for national unity.
Facebook messages that appear to have been posted by Hodgkinson regularly supported Sen. Bernie Sanders and criticized Hillary Clinton and Trump.
One post, written on March 22, read: "Trump is Traitor. Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy. It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co."
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tim Slater, who is leading the investigation, cautioned reporters, however, that it was "too early" to know what prompted the shooting.
In a statement to the House, which convened shortly after noon, Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin declared that "we are united. We are united in our shock. We are united in our anguish. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us."
Members of Congress will have many images they want to forget from the day, Ryan said, "but there is one image in particular that this House should keep" in its memory, he said, "our Democratic colleagues gathered in prayer" when they heard the news.
"For all the noise and all the fury, we are one family."
Sanders, in a statement on the Senate floor, said he was "sickened" by the shooting, which was carried out by "someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign."
"Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society," he said.
Scalise, 51, the third-ranking Republican in the House, was shot in the hip and was in stable condition, undergoing surgery, according to a statement issued by his office.
Two U.S. Capitol police officers who were wounded are in "good condition," Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said.
The other two injured people, were identified as Matt Mika, a former congressional staff member who now works for Tyson Foods, and Zack Barth, a staff aide to Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas.
Barth was in good condition, according to a statement by Williams' office. Mika, who was shot in the chest, was more seriously wounded.
The shooter "was going after elected officials," Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., told CNN from the scene of the shooting.
At least a couple of dozen members of Congress were present for the early-morning baseball practice, which was in preparation for an annual charity game. The location of the practice field and the fact that members of Congress were using it was well known in the area, Brooks said.
Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., said in an interview on Fox Business Network that before the shooting, a man "confronted us when we were going to our car, and he wanted to know whether it was Republicans or Democrats that were out there. We said it was Republicans, and he kind of started walking to the field."
"I don't know if that was the guy," DeSantis added.
Slater, who runs the FBI's Washington field office, said he was "not aware" of whether that encounter was related to the shooting.
"It's too early to tell" if members of Congress were targeted, Slater said at a brief news conference at the scene.
Slater and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe indicated that they did not believe any other people were involved in the crime and that the area is currently safe.
"We think we have a really good handle on it," Slater said.
The House canceled all votes for the day.
Witnesses said batting practice was just ending when a man dressed in casual clothes, identified by some later as the shooter, approached and started chatting with lawmakers, according to a person familiar with the statements who spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on an open investigation.
The practice field is an open and community-friendly spot, and it's not uncommon for visitors to stop by. Many lawmakers were near the dugout area when the man approached them.
Shortly afterward, shots rang out. Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown said the first report of gunfire was received at 7:09 a.m.
The shooter, described as a white man with dark hair and wearing a blue shirt, could be seen standing with a rifle as shots were fired, Flake said. "Fifty would be an understatement," he added, referring to the number of shots.
Scalise was standing on second base, fielding balls during batting practice, when the shooting began, Flake said.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., said he was walking down the third-base line toward home plate as practice was winding down.
Suddenly, he heard a loud pop, "and then there was a pause, and then there was just a barrage of gunshots," Fleischmann told reporters.
"We hit the ground behind home plate" then "ran, and we jumped into the dugout."
"There was a real fear" that the gunman would come into the dugout where members of Congress and others would have been "sitting ducks," he said.
Capitol police, who were present as part of the security detail that travels with Scalise and other members of the House leadership, returned fire with pistols, Fleischmann said. Shortly after, more police arrived and subdued the shooter, he said.
"It seemed like an eternity. In reality, it was probably just a few minutes," he said. "The fear factor was horrific. We did not know when it would end.
"He kept firing and firing and firing," he said. It was "sheer and utter chaos."
Brown said his officers arrived on the scene within two to three minutes and engaged the shooter.
Chief Verderosa praised the Capitol police officers who initially returned fire, saying they acted "heroically."
If police had not been at the scene "it would have been a massacre," said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who was taking a final run when he heard the first shot. "As terrible as it is, it could have been a lot worse."
Paul said he heard perhaps 50 to 60 shots, which he said sounded like they were coming from an AR-15 or similar rifle.
The charity ballgame, played off and on since 1909, pits Democrats against Republicans in a friendly rivalry. The game is sponsored by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call and raises money for three Washington-area charities. It is scheduled to take place Thursday evening at the Washington Nationals ballpark before a few thousand Capitol Hill staff members, lobbyists and other members of Congress.
