Baseball Field Attack: Trump Hater Opens Fire On Congress Members Injuring Whip Steve Scalise 

A disgruntled (Donald) Trump hater opened fire this morning (15 June) on members of Congress in Alexandria, Virginia, at a baseball field, seriously injuring a Republican.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, was shot in the hip and was later taken to the hospital and was reported to be in critical condition following surgery. Also injured were a congressional staffer and a Capitol Police officer.

The suspected shooter, who was killed by police soon after, has been identified as 66-year-old James Thomas Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois. A supporter of Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Hodgkinson was upset about Trump’s presidency and the Republican leadership in Washington, his family members said.

Hodgkinson who volunteered for Sanders’ 2016 campaign, had publicised his hatred for Trump in social media posts and letters to the editor at his local newspaper. Hodgkinson's Facebook page revealed his dislike for the president: "I want to say Mr President, for being an ass hole you are Truly the Biggest Ass Hole We Have Ever Had in the Oval Office."

Following the shooting, Sanders condemned the shooting and said, he was “sickened by this despicable act” and “violence of any kind is unacceptable”.

According to reports, Hodgkinson owns a home inspection business, the licence of which had expired in November 2016 and was not renewed. Restaurant owner Charles Orear described Hodgkinson as "more on the really progressive side of things," as well as being "a quiet guy" and "very mellow, very reserved."