Gunman acted alone in shooting of congressman at Virginia baseball field, FBI says - Action News
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Gunman acted alone in shooting of congressman at Virginia baseball field, FBI says

A gunman acted alone when he shot and wounded a top House Republican and four other people on a northern Virginia baseball field last week, the FBI says.

Representative Steve Scalise's condition upgraded to fair

Timothy Slater, the special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Washington, said Wednesday that James T. Hodgkinson acted alone when he shot and wounded a Republican congressman and four other people in a Alexandria, Va., baseball field on June 14. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press)

A gunman acted alone when he shot and wounded a top House Republican and four other people on a northern Virginia baseball field last week, the FBI said Wednesday.

Tim Slater, the special agent in charge of the Washington FBI office, also said during a news conference Wednesday that James T. Hodgkinson did not have any ties to terrorism.

Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise, the House majority whip, was gravely wounded in the shooting in Alexandria. He has undergone several surgeries and remains in MedStar Washington Hospital Center.On Wednesday, the hospital tweeted that Scalise was continuing to make "good progress" and his condition had been upgraded to "fair."

Scalise and other congressional Republicans were practising for their annual charity baseball game against Democrats when thegunman started shooting.

Steve Scalise, the House majority whip and a Louisiana representative, was listed in 'fair' condition in hospital on Wednesday, a week after he was critically shot and injured. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

U.S. Capitol Police and other officers returned fire and killed the gunman an unemployed home inspector with a deep animus toward President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

The gunman was identified as Hodgkinson, 66, from Belleville, Ill., who volunteered for Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

The FBI said in a statement the agency is actively investigating him to look at his associates, whereabouts and any activity on social media. Officials also are running a trace on two weapons, including a rifle and a handgun.

A female police officer with less than twoyears' experience withstood a barrage of gunfire from the gunman.

FBI technicians examine the outfield area of the Alexandria, Va., baseball field after the June 14 shooting. (Mike Theiler/Reuters)

Alexandria police Chief Michael Brown lauded the heroic actions of officer Nicole Battaglia and two other officers who were the first to arrive at a field where Republicancongressmen were practicing for the game.

Officers were first dispatched to the scene at 7:10 a.m. June 14, Brown said, and Officer Kevin Jobe, a 16-year Alexandria police veteran, arrived less than two minutes later. Battaglia and another officer, Alexander Jensen, arrived around the same time.