Alexandria Congressional Shooting: Police's Use Of Force Under Review

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Virginia's Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney is reviewing police's use of deadly force in the June 14 shooting at a GOP Congressional baseball practice in Alexandria.

The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney routinely reviews officer-related shootings. Capitol and Alexandria Police officers exchanged fire with the shooter that injured House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and five others.

(Sign up for real time alerts and a newsletter. iPhone users can download the Patch app in the App Store. Plus, like Old Town Alexandria Patch or Del Ray Patch on Facebook.)

OCA said in a statement, "The initiation of a review is a matter of routine and no inference should be made that anything improper occurred during the incident. OCA’s review is limited to determining whether the force employed by the officers was justified and reasonable in light of the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Witnesses say the shooting could have resulted in more injuries or even death if not for Capitol Police officers' quick and heroic actions. Special Agents Crystal Griner, David Bailey and Henry Cabrera were there as part of Scalise's security detail. Griner and Bailey were injured but have been released from the hospital.

Alexandria Police arrived on scene within four minutes of the first 911 call. Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown said last week Officers Kevin Jobe, Nicole Battaglia and Alexander Jensen engaged with the shooter. A notable action was Battaglia "immediately started taking fire from the suspect" and moving toward the gunfire.

"That act alone probably, in my opinion, diverted the attention of the shooter away from the other officers, allowing them to get in position to deal with the situation," said Brown at a press conference. No Alexandria officers were injured in the shooting. The three officers are on paid administrative leave.

The OCA will release results of the review when it is concluded. It should take about 90 days.

Image by Alex Brandon/Associated Press