Rep. Joe Barton (R., Texas) told reporters on Wednesday that he his two sons who were at the Republican congressional baseball practice shooting were unharmed.
"I was behind the dugout. My son Jack got under an SUV; he was very brave," Barton said, referring to his 10-year-old son. "My other son was in the batting cage and he also was very brave."
The gunman was shot and is receiving medical treatment, police confirmed. Four victims were transported to the hospital, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.), who was shot in the hip but is reported to be in stable condition.
Barton credited Scalise's security guards and the police with preventing deaths.
"The security detail and Capitol Hill Police immediately began to return fire," Barton said.
"I think the security detail saved a lot of lives because they attacked the shooter," he said. "So the heroes are the Capitol Hill police, the Alexandria police, and Steve Scalise's security detail."
Barton described the shooter as "a middle-aged man in blue jeans and a blue shirt." He thought the shooter might have had an automatic pistol in addition to his rifle.
"Again, I just want to thank the security detail because they saved our lives," Barton said.