U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop Witnesses GOP Shooting

METRO DETROIT, MI — U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, a Rochester Republican, was on the field at a congressional baseball practice when five people — including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise — were shot Wednesday morning in northern Virginia. Shots were fired by a lone gunman at about 7:15 Wednesday morning in Alexandria, according to multiple media reports.

Scalise’s security team returned fire, wounding the suspect. He was then detained and arrested. Witnesses have estimated at least 50 rounds were fired by the gunman. Bishop was on the field when gunfire erupted.

“As we were standing on the field, there was a loud burst of gunfire from about 40 yards away from us,” Bishop told The Detroit News. “I saw people going down.”

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Republican members of Congress were holding baseball practice when shooting began. Since 1909, Senate and House members have played a baseball game as a charity fundraiser for DC area charities. The GOP House Majority Whip doesn’t appear to have suffered the most serious wounds.

Bishop said a Republican staffer was shot in the chest and that it didn’t appear as if he would live. It’s unclear if the staffer was one of U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise’s, or another House member. He believes the gunman had many magazines of ammunition and would have used them if given the chance.

“He was coming around the corner to get the rest of us,” Bishop told the Detroit News. “Our chief whip has a security detail with him and they returned fire. One of them hit him and by then they had him pinned down and able to neutralize him. If it hadn’t been for them, I’m telling you right now, you would not be talking to me. This would have been a far bigger deal. It’s already a huge deal, but there would have been many more fatalities.”

President Donald Trump issued a statement regarding the attack. "The Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected."

Photo: House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) was among five people shot on Wednesday. Photo by Drew Angerer / Staff / Getty Images News / Getty Images

Elizabeth Janney (Patch Staff) Contributed to this report