A US Republican politician and aides have been shot during baseball practice in Virginia, US reports say.<\/p>\n
Police in the upmarket Washington DC suburb of Alexandria said they were investigating a “multiple shooting” and a suspect was in custody.<\/p>\n
US media said House of Representatives Majority Whip Steve Scalise and aides had been hit by gunfire.<\/p>\n
Police tweeted they were “investigating multiple shooting 400 block E Monroe St. Suspect believed in custody.”<\/p>\n
An apparent eyewitness said on Twitter that gunfire rang out at the YMCA baseball fields, by the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.<\/p>\n
The witness, @ben_childers, said it happened at a congressional baseball team practice session.<\/p>\n
Local media report there is a major police presence after the attack.<\/p>\n
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, texted Fox News to say that Mr Scalise had been shot in the hip and would survive.<\/p>\n
He said someone had used a belt as a tourniquet on him.<\/p>\n
Mr Lee said the shooter had used a long gun and was dead.<\/p>\n
White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted that President Donald Trump was being briefed.<\/p>\n
“Both @POTUS & @VP are aware of the developing situation in Virginia. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected,” Mr Spicer tweeted.<\/p>\n
Representative Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, told CNN he was on third base during the baseball game when he saw Mr Scalise, who was on second base, shot.<\/p>\n
He said everyone on the field scattered as 50 to 100 shots were fired.<\/p>\n
Mr Brooks said a gunfight ensued between the shooter and the congressmen’s police security detail.<\/p>\n
CNN reports that two police officers were also shot.<\/p>\n
Mr Brooks said the shooter was armed with a rifle and opened fire from behind the dugout, using it for protection.<\/p>\n
The congressman, who said he took refuge behind a batting cage, described the attacker as a middle-aged white male “a little on the chubby side”.<\/p>\n
Mr Brooks said Senator Rand Paul, of Kentucky, and congressmen Chuck Fleischmann, of Tennessee, Ron DeSantis, of Florida, and Jeff Duncan, of South Carolina, were also at the game.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"