Rep. Mo Brooks (R., Ala.) was on-deck when a shooting broke out at a baseball practice for Republican congressman Wednesday morning that wounded several people.
Among the injured was House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.), and Brooks had difficulty containing himself as he described the shooting to CNN's "New Day." He told them semiautomatic fire began to ring out during practice, and he realized it was an active shooting situation.
"I see a rifle, and I see a little bit of a body and then I hear another bam and I realize there’s still an active shooter. At the same time I hear Steve Scalise over at second base scream — he was shot," he said.
The shooting occurred in Alexandria, Virginia's Del Ray neighborhood. Brooks estimated the assailant and Capitol Police exchanged 50 to 100 shots. Police said the gunman had been taken into custody.
Five people were medically transferred from the scene, including the suspected shooter, police said. No fatalities have been reported.
Alexandria Police say "5 people were transported medically from the scene" following shooting at a baseball practice https://t.co/0W7nH1q6AL
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 14, 2017
APD Chief Michael Brown updated media. 5 transported to local hospitals, including suspect. We will not ID victims or suspect right now. pic.twitter.com/pPYlqEjACM
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) June 14, 2017
Brooks said Scalise crawled into the outfield leaving a "trail of blood" 10 to 15 yards long, and he helped put pressure on Scalise's wound. He also described helping put pressure on a congressional staffer's leg wound to minimize blood loss.
Brooks praised the law enforcement response to the shooting, describing one wounded officer who came over to tend to Scalise's wound.
"It is hard to contain the emotions. My adrenaline is raging, and of course it's never easy to take when you see people around you getting shot, and you don't have a weapon yourself so you are not in a position where you can help defend," he said. "So you're pretty helpless."
UPDATE: 9:44 A.M.: This article was updated to show police said five people were transported to local hospitals.