Congressional Baseball Shooting: Alexandria YMCA, Park Opening

(Updated 10:54 a.m. Saturday) ALEXANDRIA, VA — Streets closed for the investigation of Wednesday's shooting at a GOP congressional baseball practice are now open, police say. The YMCA is opening as well. Police say Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, the dog park and all other closed areas will open this afternoon.

The ballfields, playground, dog park, walking trails and YMCA would remain closed until further notice, the City of Alexandria said in a release Friday. YMCA members received complimentary access to Alexandria's recreation facilities during the closure. This includes all neighborhood recreation center, outdoor pools and Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility.

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The YMCA was struck fire as a gunman opened fire on a group of congressmen and aides on a baseball field Wednesday, striking House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, one police officer and two others before being killed in a shootout with Alexandria and U.S. Capitol Police. The YMCA was on lockdown during the shooting. A witness told The Washington Post a bullet had landed in the other side of the pool while she was swimming.

Alexandria Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations said in a statement the suspect's car was parked at the YMCA during the shooting. Former Alexandria mayor Bill Euille told The Washington Post he talked with the suspect, James T. Hodgkinson, 66, often when he went to the YMCA in the last month.

Pictured is Eugene Simpson Stadium Ball Park, where Rep. Steve Scalise and five others were injured when a gunman opened fire at a GOP baseball practice. Image via Patch staff