WASHINGTON, D.C. At least five people were rushed to medical facilities with injuries after a gunman opened fire on Republican members of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday at a practice for an annual congressional Democrats-versus-Republicans charity baseball game, said police, witnesses and hospitals.The following is information about the victims and their medical status after the shootings on a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington:Majority Whip Steve Scalise, the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, was shot in the hip and was receiving care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, his office said. Scalise is out of surgery and in critical condition. As whip, Scalise, 51, is responsible for rounding up votes for legislation and maintaining order among his party’s fractious ranks. His Louisiana district encircles New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, and includes the bayou region where the Mississippi River spills into the Gulf of Mexico.Matt Mika, a lobbyist for Arkansas-based Tyson Foods Inc and former staffer for two former Republican representatives, was shot in the chest, according to witnesses including Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ). It is reported that Mika was in the most serious condition of the victims, upon receiving medical attention. In a statement, Mika’s family said he was “shot multiple times”, is in critical condition and is currently in surgery.”Baseball is one of his great passions and he has always loved the Congressional team,” his family said.Mika was also a White House aide under former President George Bush, where he coordinated volunteers, worked with press advance and security details and managed VIP visits.Zachary Barth, a staffer for Texas Representative Roger Williams, was shot and was being treated, Williams said. “He is receiving medical attention but is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery,” Williams said on Twitter. Barth, reportedly, updated his Facebook soon after the attack, alerting friends that he was shot but doing “okay.”Capitol Hill police officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner were wounded while exchanging gunfire with the shooter, according to House Republican leader Paul Ryan. Both serve as part of Scalise’s security detail and are currently in “good condition”, according to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa. While the extent of the injuries have not been confirmed, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) said it was his understanding that Bailey was not shot, but had twisted his ankle during the attack and was currently in a boot on crunches. “Many lives would’ve been lost if not for the heroic actions of the two Capitol Police officers who took down the gunman, despite sustaining gunshot wounds during a very, very brutal assault,” President Donald Trump said from White House a few hours after the attack.”It is clear to me, based on eyewitness accounts, that without these heroes, Agents Bailey and Griner, many lives would have been lost,” House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) reiterated during a speech from the House floor.Reuters News Service contributed to this article.
