“Sitting Ducks”: Rep. Bishop Describes Shooting at GOP Baseball Practice

Gunman opens fire at lawmakers in Alexandria, Va.

Alexandria Shooting AP photo 061417 - pb

Three members of Michigan’s congressional delegation were among several Republican lawmakers who were practicing for a charity baseball game when someone started shooting at them Wednesday morning. It happened in Alexandria, Va. GOP lawmakers were getting ready for the annual contest against their Democratic colleagues. 

Mike Bishop, who represents Michigan’s 8th District, tells WDET he was shocked, but not injured.

“A gunman walked up to the fence line on the third base line and began to fire,” Bishop says. “We were all sitting ducks.”

Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip, was shot in the hip according to multiple news reports. Bishop says more people may have been killed if not for a security detail that was on hand.

“Without question in my mind, he would have gotten every one of us,” Bishop says. “This guy was hunting.”

Bishop says he and a member of his staff were at the practice, and neither were hurt. He also says Michigan representatives John Moolenaar and Jack Bergman were there, and that neither were hurt.

Stay tuned to WDET and NPR for the latest developments.

 

Author

  • Pat Batcheller is a host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET, presenting local news, traffic and weather updates during Morning Edition. He is an amateur musician.