1 congressman shot as gunman opens fire on lawmakers in Virginia
At least one member of the US Congress has been shot in a mass shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, that involved a group of Republican lawmakers, police say.
House of Representatives majority whip Steve Scalise and his aide were shot by a gunman during a baseball game with several other Republican politicians in Alexandria.
Scalise was hit in the hip or leg with a semi-automatic rifle while his aide was hit in the chest, according to reports.
About 50 shots were fired, congressional sources said.
The site includes a park with baseball fields where members of the congressional baseball team regularly practice.
Images and footage from the scene show bullet holes in windows of buildings around the scene of the shooting.
Alexandria police said in a tweet that the suspect was in custody. It also advised people to stay clear from the area.
US President Donald Trump said in a statement that he and Vice President Mike Pence were monitoring developments closely.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.”
