Timeline Of Virginia Congressional Shooting: Baseball Practice Turned Nightmare

(Updated 1:08 p.m. Sunday) ALEXANDRIA, VA — The House of Representatives is trying to resume business Thursday, but the aftermath of an Alexandria shooting that targeted the Republican baseball team continues to affect lawmakers, the injured, area police and perhaps the country. With House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and a lobbyist are still in critical condition at area hospitals, President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made separate bedside visits to the injured, Alexandria residents prayed for peace and the annual Congressional Baseball Game will go on as planned Thursday night.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations and Alexandria police continue to remain on scene at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, where gunman James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois, opened fire Wednesday at a GOP baseball practice. The shooting left Scalise and six others injured and the suspect dead.

Here's how the events unfolded:

Wednesday

6:30 a.m. - Republican congressmen and aides begin arriving at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park to practice for Thursday's Congressional Baseball Game, an annual bipartisan showdown to raise money for local charities.

Around 7 a.m. - Rep. Jeff Duncan speaks to a man he later realized would be the shooter. He left the practice minutes before the gunman opened fire. "I did have an interaction with someone in the parking lot who asked me if the team practicing was a Democrat or Republican team," Duncan said. "I told him, he said, 'k thanks,' and turned around. I got in the car and left, found out that my Republican colleagues were targeted by an active shooter."

7:09 a.m. - Alexandria Police receive a call about an active shooter, Police Chief Michael Brown says.

During the shooting - Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama told CNN he was along the third base line when he saw a rifle and heard shots. Brooks also heard Scalise scream when he was shot then drag himself away from second base.

"Once we got the all-clear that the shooter was down, we ran out to second base for Steve Scalise," Brooks said. "He had crawled into the outfield leaving a trail of blood. I put pressure on his wound and his hip, and [Rep.] Brad Wenstrup started doing what you need to do to minimize the blood loss."

Sen. Jeff Flake had just taken batting practice when he heard the first shot ring out from near the third base dugout. "All of a sudden, we heard a shot, a very loud shot," Flake told reporters. "Then boom, a rapid succession after that. He had a rifle of some type, and it was a obviously large-gauge rifle."

Flake estimated that more than 50 shots were fired, according to a statement from his office. The senator helped treat the staffer who had managed to make it into the dugout. Once medical personnel arrived, Flake grabbed Scalise's phone and called Scalise's wife to let her know what had happened so she didn't hear it first from the media.

Sen. Rand Paul told "CBS This Morning" that 30 to 40 people were on the ball field when the shots began. People hid in the dugouts and behind vehicles in the parking lot. "I can't say enough about the Capitol Hill Police, without them it would have been a massacre," Paul said.

Rep. Joe Barton told reporters his 10-year-old son Jack was in the batting cage when the shooting started. "I got Jack, he crawled under a car with the bleachers between him and the shooter. It may have only been four or five minutes but to me it felt like 10 minutes," he said.

A witness, David Woodruff, who lives in Alexandria and used to work for members of Congress, told Patch and other reporters he saw the GOP team practicing then ran when he heard multiple shots fired.

"I came back out, saw two members of Congress I worked with, asked if they needed anything, if I could be of any help," Woodruff said. "They were clearly distraught and very shaken up."

7:12 a.m. - Alexandria Police arrive on scene and join Capitol Police in an exchange of gunshots with the shooter, Brown said.

7:14 a.m. - Police shoot the gunman, according to a joint statement from the FBI and Alexandria police.

8:01 a.m. - Press Secretary Sean Spicer said President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are aware of the shooting.

8:23 a.m. - Alexandria police confirm via Twitter the suspect was in custody and was not a threat any longer.

8:48 a.m. - President Trump says via Twitter, "Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him."

9:05 a.m. - Alexandria police confirm five people were taken to the hospital, including the suspect.

9:48 a.m. - Scalise's office confirms in a statement that the majority whip was shot in the hip and transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is in stable condition and is undergoing surgery. "Prior to entering surgery, the Whip was in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone. He is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues," the statement says.

10:30 a.m. - Brown tells reporters the investigation has been turned over to the FBI. Brown says the city is now safe and the shooting was an "isolated incident."

10:38 a.m. - Rep. Roger Williams, who injured his leg and ankle diving for cover, confirms that his legislative aide Zach Barth was shot. He says Barth would "make a full recovery."

10:51 a.m. - Rep. Kevin Brady says Matt Mika, a lobbyist for Tyson's Food, was also shot.

11:37 a.m. - President Trump announces from the White House that the shooter has died from his injuries.

12 p.m. - House Speaker Paul Ryan identifies the victims injured in the shooting:

• Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana
• Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner
• Lobbyist Matt Mika, director of government relations for Tyson's Food
• Zach Barth, a legislative aide who was shot in the leg
• Capitol Police Special Agent David Bailey was treated and released for a secondary injury

12:12 p.m. - Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont says in a statement that the shooter was a volunteer on his campaign. "Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms," he Sanders says.

3:45 p.m. - The FBI and Alexandria police officially identify the shooter as James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois. According to the statement, The Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is running a trace on a rifle and a handgun. The FBI is actively investigating Hodgkinson. The FBI's Springfield and St. Louis Evidence Response Teams are searching the suspect's home in Belleville.

5:30 p.m. - Slater says at a press conference that Hodgkinson reportedly lived in his car on East Monroe Avenue in Alexandria. "Law enforcement has reason to believe the suspect has been in Alexandria, Virginia since March of this year," Slater says. He also updates the tally of injured to six.

6:30 p.m. - Two veterans organizations hold a solidarity walk/run in response to the shooting with members of Congress, law enforcement and community members.

9:26 p.m. - Scalise's office says in a statement the majority whip underwent immediate surgery and another procedure to stop bleeding; the hospital says he has received multiple units of blood. Scalise faces more operations and remains in critical condition.

9:51 p.m. - The City of Alexandria alerts residents that lights at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park would remain on all night due to the investigation.

Thursday

7:56 a.m. - The FBI announces it will remain on scene with Alexandria Police as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information about Hodgkinson should call the FBI's 24-hour access line at 1-800-CALL-FBI and select option 1.

Thursday morning - Officials say Scalise underwent additional surgery, according to CNBC.

Mika's family said in a statement he remains in critical condition and requires medical equipment to breathe, according to USA Today.

1:35 p.m. - Alexandria Police said recovering evidence at the crime scene could take several days.

Thursday evening - Mika's family tells 7 Action News in Michigan that his condition has improved from critical to serious.

Friday

12 p.m. - The City of Alexandria said that Simpson Park and the YMCA will remain closed throughout the weekend for the investigation. The YMCA was struck during the shooting.

Friday afternoon - Dr. Jack Sava, the director of trauma at MedStar Washington, told reporters Scalise remains in critical condition and will be in the hospital for some time. Sava was careful when speaking about Scalise's condition but said his risk of death is substantially lower than when he came in to the hospital. He also said doctors expect Scalise to able to walk and run once he recovers.

In addition, Sava said Officer Crystal Griner, who suffered a gunshot wound to her ankle, is in good condition and good spirits at the hospital.

4:30 p.m. - The FBI and Alexandria Police said in a joint statement investigators and forensic experts are working to determine shooting trajectory. This will help determine how many shots were fired and what direction they came from. The FBI expects to release the area back to Alexandria Police this weekend. Local authorities will notify residents when the road closures will be lifted and the crime scene areas reopened.

Saturday

10:30 a.m. - Alexandria Police said the streets and YMCA closed during the investigation have opened again. All closed areas, including Simpson Park, are expected to open in the afternoon.

Saturday afternoon - Matt Mika's family said in a statement he is expected to make a full recovery but will remain in the hospital at least through the weekend.

Saturday evening - Hodgkinson had a list of GOP congressmen on him, CBS News reported. The list includes Reps. Mo Brooks of Alabama, Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, and Trent Franks of Arizona, according to a U.S. official. Brooks was at the baseball field during the shooting, and Duncan had left minutes before.

Saturday night - Scalise's condition has improved to serious, Medstar Washington Hospital Center said in a statement. He underwent another surgery, but is more responsive and is speaking with family.

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Pictured, people gather near the scene of a shooting near a baseball field in Alexandria, Va., Wednesday, June 14, 2017, where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La. was shot during a congressional baseball practice. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Also, police and emergency personnel are seen near the scene where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot during a Congressional baseball practice in Alexandria on Wednesday, June 14. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen). Other photos from the scene by Patch staff.