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Washington Hospital Upgrades Scalise's Condition From 'Serious' to 'Fair'

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.) / Getty
June 21, 2017

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise's (R., La.) condition was upgraded on Wednesday from "serious" to "fair" after he and four others were shot at a Republican congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va. last week.

"Congressman Steve Scalise continues to make good progress. He is now listed in fair condition and is beginning an extended period of healing and rehabilitation," MedStar Washington Hospital Center said in a statement.

Scalise was practicing with the Republican congressional baseball team early last Wednesday morning when the shooter, James Hodgkinson, opened fire on the lawmakers practicing on the field. Hodgkinson, an avid supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), had a deep hatred of Republicans and fired 50-100 shots.

Scalise was the only lawmaker hit during the shooting, but Capitol Hill Police officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, congressional staffer Zachary Barth, and Tyson Foods lobbyist Matt Mika were hit during the ambush attempt.

Bailey, Griner, and Barth were released from the hospital last week, but Mika is still undergoing treatment in serious condition, according to National Journal reporter Daniel Newhauser.

The baseball team had been practicing for two months to compete in the annual Congressional Baseball Game against the Democratic team. The charity game went on as scheduled last Thursday and unified both political parties as they set a record for fundraising and ticket sales, according to CNN.

The game raised $1.5 million and 24,959 tickets were sold, according to a press release from the organizers. Spokesperson Meredith Raimondi told CNN that the 2016 game raised around $500,000 and sold about 10,000 tickets.

A portion of the funds raised this year will support the individuals who were injured in the attack and the officers who responded at the scene.

The money raised will also go to three Washington-based charities that the Congressional Baseball Game has supported in past years: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and The Washington Literacy Center.