Mitch Perry
Polk County Congressman Dennis Ross is one of four members of the Florida GOP delegation on the baseball team attacked by a gunman Wednesday morning in Alexandria, Virginia, but he wasn’t at today’s practice.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot, and multiple congressional aides were also hit by a gunman with a rifle who opened fire at a GOP baseball practice. Scalise is reported to be in stable condition.
Five people were “transported medically” from the scene, Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown said; however, it was unclear how many people had been shot.
“Cindy’s and my thoughts and prayers are with Whip Scalise, the staff, the Capitol Police officers, and the family and friends of those hurt,” Ross said in a statement. “Our deep appreciation goes out to the Capitol Police and local law enforcement officers for their protection.”
A spokeswoman for Ross said the representative did not attend practice this morning and was doing fine.
Florida Republicans Matt Gaetz, Tom Rooney and Ron DeSantis also play on the team.
DeSantis, who represents Florida’s 6th Congressional District, says he had a “very strange” encounter in the parking lot with someone who wanted to know if they were “Republicans” or “Democrats” playing baseball.
DeSantis was leaving the field with Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina with a man approached them.
“As I was getting into the car with Duncan, a guy came up to us and asked if it was Republicans or Democrats out there,” DeSantis told Fox News. “It was a little odd. He was not carrying anything at the time. There was no one that was obviously walking around with a rifle.”
