Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) condemned Wednesday's shooting that was apparently perpetrated by a former volunteer on his presidential campaign, saying he was "sickened by this despicable act."
Police say suspect James T. Hodgkinson shot House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.) and four others while Republican lawmakers were conducting a baseball practice in Alexandria, Va.
Hodgkinson died at a hospital Wednesday morning after being shot by police. In addition to supporting Sanders for the presidency, his social media postings showed deep hostility toward President Donald Trump.
"I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the Republican baseball practice this morning is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign," Sanders said on the Senate floor. "I am sickened by this despicable act. Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms."
Real change, he said, can only come out through non-violent action.
"Anything else runs counter to our most deeply held American values," Sanders said. "I know I speak for the entire country in saying that my hopes and prayers are that Representative Scalise, congressional staff and the Capitol police officers who were wounded make a quick and full recovery."