Several people including a top Republican congressman were wounded in a Washington suburb early Wednesday morning when a gunman opened fire as they practiced for an annual baseball game between lawmakers.Congressman Steve Scalise, the majority whip who rallies Republican votes in the House of Representatives and one of around two dozen lawmakers gathered at the baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, was badly injured by a gunshot to the hip, but in stable condition according to his office. Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina said he had just left the practice and encountered the apparent gunman in the parking lot before the shooting. The shooting took place around 7 a.m. at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, about seven miles away from the White House in Washington, D.C., where a number of lawmakers were practicing for the annual charity congressional baseball game set for Thursday. ALEXANDRIA, Va. >> A rifle-wielding attacker opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice Wednesday, wounding House GOP Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and several others as congressmen and aides dove for cover. RELATED: Victims recovering after shooting during baseball practice

Tyson Food Director of Government Relations Matt Mika suffered several gunshot wounds and remains in the intensive care unit in serious condition, which is an improvement from critical condition as he was intially listed. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) ALEXANDRIA, VA - JUNE 14: Matthew Verderosa, Capitol Hill Chief of Police, briefs members of the press near Eugene Simpson Field, the site where a gunman opened fire June 14, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. He hit Steve Scalise,” Barton said, “Scalise’s security detail and the Capitol Hill police immediately returned fire, and Alexandria Police also immediately came and began to return fire. “It is clear to me based on various eyewitness accounts that without these two heroes, Agent Bailey and Agent Griner, many lives would have been lost.”

Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., told CNN, “I was on deck about to hit batting practice on the third base side and I hear, ‘Bam.’ And I look around and behind third base … I see a rifle. Senior congressman Steve Scalise was shot in the hip, according to fellow Republican lawmaker Mo Brooks who told CNN at least two law enforcement officers and one congressional staffer were also shot in the incident in Alexandria, Virginia. And you didn’t succeed, and there is a warm place in hell for you, too.”

Some other lawmakers in attendance were: Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.; Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.; and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn.

At a news conference Wednesday morning, Alexandria Police Chief Mike Brown assured residents that the community is safe. We’ll keep them in our prayers and send them our wish for a quick and full recovery.”

He added, “The congressional baseball game is a bipartisan charity event.
A gunman opens fire at a Congressional Baseball practice, injuring five people, including United States Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA-01) who is in critical condition. The suspected gunman later died from injuries after exchanging gunfire with Capitol Police.