Kansas and Missouri legislators are unhurt after a shooting Wednesday morning at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia.
A gunman opened fire on members of Congress and their staffers Wednesday morning at a practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) was among those shot.
Kansas congressmen Roger Marshall and Kevin Yoder were both on the roster for the game.
Marshall posted on Facebook that he was unhurt after the shooting.
Yoder was supposed to be at Wednesday's practice, but his spokesman told 41 Action News he decided Tuesday night not to go.
Watch the video below to hear Yoder talk about how he was supposed to be there and how thankful he was that security officers were at the practice.
41 Action News spoke with Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill over the phone about the shooting. She praised the police officers on the scene and said the shooting should unite us, not divide us.
McCaskill said she was dismayed to see too many people on Twitter trying to take sides after this “unspeakable evil.”
“This should be a moment that should unite all of us. We shouldn’t be retreating to our partisan corners and trying to paint this with some kind of political overview,” McCaskill said.
Please people. No partisan politics over this. Let's come together against evil. United by our common decency.
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) June 14, 2017
She also praised Capitol police, who were Scalise’s security detail at the baseball field.
“These police officers were incredibly brave and courageous,” McCaskill said. “They’re the ones I think that neutralized the situation so we didn’t have a massacre on that field this morning.”
Just talked to Capitol police, they indicate officers will be ok. Thank God. Hope true for anyone hit.
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) June 14, 2017
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver released the following statement regarding the shooting.
"No matter your political affiliation or viewpoint, violence is never the answer to our differences. My prayers are with the families of Congressman Steve Scalise, Rep. Roger William's aide, and our two brave Capitol police officers. I am grateful for the women and men of the Capitol police, the Alexandria police, and other law enforcement who protect us daily."
Watch the video below to hear Cleaver's reaction to the shooting.
Sen. Roy Blunt released the following statement on Wednesday:
“No act of violence, no matter how evil or senseless, will ever come close to shaking the foundations of our democracy. But we are always brought, at moments like this, to the important recognition that we're Americans first. That's why our country will always be a beacon of freedom. But the things we debate every day are not nearly as big or powerful as the things that unite us every day. And moments like this bring that sense of unity and concern and commitment to maintain a society that is free and secure, and a greater appreciation for those who spend all day every working day with that as their principle obligation, and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.”
He also tweeted about the shooting.
Incredibly grateful for our law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. (2/2)
— Senator Roy Blunt (@RoyBlunt) June 14, 2017
