Congressional Shooter Had 200 Rounds Of Ammo In Storage: FBI

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The suspect who opened fire on a GOP congressional baseball practice in Alexandria had 200 rounds of ammunition in a storage facility, the FBI said Wednesday. The June 14 shooting critically injured House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and injured five others. The shooter died from gunshot wounds after exchanging fire with Capitol and Alexandria police.

The FBI left the shooting site, Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, over the weekend, but the investigation into James T. Hodgkinson, 66, is ongoing. Records indicate he legally bought a SKS 7.62 mm caliber rifle in March 2003 and 9 mm handgun in November 2016 at federally licensed sellers. He rented an Alexandria storage facility since April 16, where investigators found the ammunition, a receipt for a November 2016 gun purchase and additional SKS rifle parts. (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.)

The FBI confirmed Hodgkinson was carrying a list of six members of Congress, and he had searched two of them online in recent months. Hodgkinson's now-deleted Facebook page displayed anti-Republican views, but he did not post any threats or references to members of Congress or the congressional baseball game. Investigators also found multiple images of Simpson Park, which he took on April 15. The FBI does not believe it represents surveillance of his intended targets.

Rep. Jeff Duncan told investigators he talked with whom he believed was the shooter about the Republican baseball practice. 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 told reporters following the shooting. "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."

Hodgkinson's wife Sue said last week he was traveling to the DC area in March 2017, and authorities believe he has been in Alexandria since that time. The FBI said his car was parked at the nearby YMCA at the morning of the shooting, and he was likely living out of his vehicle. Former Alexandria mayor Bill Euille told The Washington Post he talked with Hodgkinson often when he went to the YMCA in the last month.

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Before Hodgkinson left his Belleville, Illinois, home, local police there responded to resident complaints of Hodgkinson conducting target practice. He was not in violation of any local laws and therefore not charged. Hodgkinson’s prior criminal record includes a charge of domestic battery in 2006.

The investigation continues, and Patch will share continue to share further updates and the conditions of the victims.

Photo of shooter James Hodgkinson via Facebook.com screenshot