The highrise Apartment Building up in flames. The death toll rising tonight. The mother who dropped her baby nearly ten stories to safety. Announcer this is a Special Edition of World News Tonight with david muir, reporting tonight from washington. And good evening on this wednesday night. Were back at the capitol in washington tonight, because of that awful scene that played out this morning. As lawmakers were practicing for an annual tradition, the congressional Baseball Game, when a gunman opened fire. It was not long before the gunman allegedly asked, are they democrats or republicans . He was told they were republicans. Five people were hit, including congressman Steve Scalise, a member of the house leadership. Tonight, hes in Critical Condition. After trying to crawl across the field to safety. Authorities now say James Hodgkinson was the attacker, the husband and Home Inspector from illinois. Who had Strong Political views. Tonight, that gunman is now dead, taken down by two Capitol Hill Police officers. And we begin here with Abcs David Kerley at the scene not far from here, in alexandria, virginia. Reporter Batting Practice shattered by shots fired, large caliber, 50 or more witnesses say, as this man ducks for cover. But this Team Includes 20 Members Of Congress. Hey, is that guy okay out there . Is he okay . You can see several people crowding around a player on the field. Theres also a victim down in the Baseball Field. Reporter that victim, congressman Steve Scalise, shot in the hip, medevaced off the field. Hes in Critical Condition tonight, his family heading to visit him. It was his Capitol Police detail, two agents, who Returned Fire. The shooter, 66yearold James Hodgkinson, an Unemployed Illinois Man who had reportedly,
been in the Washington Area for a couple months. The Members Of Congress were preparing for the annual Congressional CharityBaseball Game. Two members left before the shooting and were approached by the gunman. There was an individual, middleaged, caucasian male that asked us, you know, hey, you know, is that republicans . Democrats . You know, what . We were, like, republicans. And he kind of turned and went towards the field. Reporter just after 7 00 a. M. , hodgkinson opens fire through a fence near the third base dugout. The number three man in house leadership, scalise, from louisiana, is playing second base and is hit by a bullet. We need medics. Weve got a suspect shooting. Reporter Members Of Congress forced to flee. Senator rand paul ducking behind a tree, as others are still on field. I said do you want to try to get out and all of a sudden, he was up and he was over the 20foot fence in about two seconds, and i never seen anybody climb a fence that fast in my life. Reporter others run to the first base dugout, as the
shooter is on the move. This representative joe barton was there with his two sons. Everybody was looking out for him. Reporter Scalises Security Detail also along that first baseline. A Gun Battle With A suspect from behind an suv, according to witnesses. Both officers are injured. I thought were all going to have to run out of the dugout, but soon after that they took him down. Reporter within minutes, local police joining in the gun battle. The gunman is down at 7 14 a. M. And dies later. He was very calm. He was just walking and shooting as if it was just like he was practicing. Reporter in all, four shot. Congressman scalise, a Capitol Police officer, a staffer and a lob lobbyist. Two others injured. The gun battle was not confined to the field, car windows, and businesses, the local ymca, windows shattered by bullets. Owen britton was walking out of that y. He was crouched behind a wooden structure. Reporter two dozen atf agents and fbi teams descended on the scene, gathering evidence. As we see the evidence, a Baseball Glove left behind, of the panic in the ball park. And david kerley joins us live tonight from that Baseball Field in alexandria. David, we just saw authorities there on the scene. Theres still a heavy presence at this hour . Reporter yes, david, we just saw five agents crisscrossing the outfield looking for bullets that were lodged in the field here. Also, the fbi has issued a poster tonight looking for more informrmation about the assaila who they say was living in a white van in this area for the past couple of months. David. David kerley leading us off tonight. David, thank you. And as you heard david mentioned just a short time before we came on the air, the fbi putting out this bulletin. They want to know more about the gunman. How he got his weapons and who bought them. He was from illinois. He was a Bernie Sanders supporter and he didnt hide his Strong Political views on social
media, particularly when it came to President Trump. Heres abcs senior justice correspondent Pierre Thomas tonight. Reporter Police Today Racing to the home of James Hodgkinson in a desperate search for clues about the wouldbe mass murderer, killed in a shootout with police. Trying to find a motive for a man who had strident political beliefs, but who no one knew would explode into a barrage of gunfire. In the 66yearolds hometown in southwestern illinois, shock. I mean, he was in a few fights and stuff like that, but nothing that would demonstrate violence as far as what he did. Reporter tonight, the fbi focused on these posts portraying a deep hatred for republicans, even calling President Trump a traitor. Trump has destroyed our democracy. Its time to destroy trump and co. And he posted a cartoon critical of congressman Steve Scalise, who he allegedly shot today. He joined antirepublican facebook groups, including one dubbed terminate the republican
party. His nowremoved Facebook Page showing his ardent support of Bernie Sanders, the vermont senator confirming today hodgkinson volunteered for the campaign. I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the republican Baseball Practice this morning is someone who apparently volunteered on my president ial campaign. I am sickened by this despicable act. Reporter he had no love for Hillary Clinton either, posting a nomination for hillary equals a win for trump. But there were runins with the law, a history of petty violations, and hints that violence could be coming. In april 2006, Police Responded to a domestic incident in which hodgkinson was accused of striking a woman and hitting a neighbor in the face with a shotgun, but the Misdemeanor Charges were later dropped. Then, just two months ago, police were called to his illinois home after neighbors complained about dozens of shots being fired. I said im going to call the sheriff and report him. I said hes not stopping. Reporter he was only given a warning. But his life was apparently starting to unravel. His wife told us today he left for alexandria, virginia, two months ago. Without work, The Building Inspector was allegedly living out of a gym bag. He believe the shooter had been living out of his vehicle. Reporter he would stop by this bar, about eight blocks for the shooting site. I just remember him being extremely quiet, didnt really make eye contact. And then would be staring, you know, when i was looking away or looking out the window a lot. Lets get to Pierre Thomas, and we know this is still a very active investigation. Fbi agents as we saw earlier on that Baseball Field late today. Authorities are coming through his records and contacts to make sure he in fact acted alone . David, they want to know who hes been talking to, what hes been reading, where hes traveled. At this point they believe he acted alone. But they want to be absolutely certain. Nothing will be left to chance. David. Pierre thomas, thank you. Many lawmakers diving into the dugout on that Baseball Field. Others trying to get to Congressman Scalise, who had begun to crawl further into the outfield after being shot. I spoke with congressman Chuck Fleischman from tennessee. He believes the gunman walked right past him with the guns. Reporter you suddenly heard the gunshots. I heard one single, loud pop. I didnt realize at first it was a gunshot. Very shortly thereafter, there was a barrage of shots. It was sickening, it was saddening and there were a lot of shots. Easily 30 to 50, maybe more. Reporter and obviously, everybody was at the ball field today. Theres really little place to turn, except for the dugout, which is where you dove . We hit the ground. I found out later sadly that apparently the shooter actually came around and must have come right past us because we were lying by the fence. So i was very fortunate not to have been shot. I did end up in the dugout and thats where i got injured and other people got injured. Reporter because so many people simply dove in . Just dove in. One of our members broke his ankle diving in just to get out of the barrage of gunfire. But the Capitol Police did a tremendous job. I want the American People to know that, but for the fact that the Capitol Police who Returned Fire and protected us, there would have been a lot more people severely injured. Reporter and they fought back even though they were wounded. Thats correct. Reporter incredible thing. The congressman who was on the field, Congressman Scalise. He was trying to crawl out further out on the field to find some sort of safety from the gunman. Yes, very sad. We had other people shot there, one other young man got shot in the chest hes had surgery, i believe two surgeries. When i got in the dugout i saw another gentleman who had been shot in the leg. Its just a very, very sad day. A sad day indeed. Congressman fleischmann with us just moments ago. The shooting sending shock waves through the capitol right here behind me. We saw security tighter than ever here today. Tourists kept away for a time. And in the hallways and in meeting rooms today, Members Of Congress asking, has the rhetoric gone too far . Where are we now as a nation . Abcs mary bruce also here on capitol hill. Reporter congressman Steve Scalise was looking forward to the big game. I couldnt even make my high school team. But, you know, kind of bloomed later in life. Reporter the louisiana lawmaker, a proud ragin cajuns fan, calling his wife before heading into surgery. Also hit, zack barth, a congressional aide from texas. Posting that he was in the hospital but okay. And lobbyist matt mika, one of the teams coaches, shot in the chest. Tonight in Critical Condition. And those two heroic officers, crystal griner, shot in the ankle. And david bailey, a nineyear veteran of the Capitol Police, suffering minor injuries. Both there to protect scalise, but protecting so many more. Scalise gets a security because hes in leadership. Had scalise not been there i think it would have been a massacre today because there would have been no way to defend yourself. Reporter Congressman Rodney Davis of illinois, the teams catcher, was at bat when shots rang out. We show him the shooters photo. It makes me nauseous to find out he may be from my home state. Reporter and today moments of unity. That image in the dugout, the Democratic Team praying for the republican colleagues, and in the halls of congress. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. [ applause ] mary, both you and i heard that often today. That so many here on capitol hill do believe we have reached a Breaking Point with the rhetoric in this country. Youve learned that the congressional Baseball Game will go on tomorrow . David, that show of unity will extend to the Baseball Diamond tomorrow night. Democrats and republicans feel it sends a strong message that americans will not back down to fear. One republican who was at that field today saying, they all agree they need to play ball. David. Mary bruce just behind us at the capitol. Mary, thank you. President trump speaking to the nation, acknowledging the deep divide, the differences. But urging calm today. I want to bring in cecilia vega. This was a bit of a test of sorts for this president after a shooting like this. Heres what he said. We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our Nations Capital is here because above all they love our country. We can all agree that we are blessed to be americans. That our children deserve to grow up in a nation of safety and peace. And cecilia, you heard from those lawmakers in the report just beforehand here on the hill. One who told me that we have in fact reached that Breaking Point, that americans have to come together despite their political views, is the white house aware of that in the message from the president today . They certainly are and in this call of unity is stretching from the white house down to capitol hill and frankly, both sides of the aisle. These calls for tonedown
rhetoric, for a more civil discourse. The question right now is, this is coming at time of Deep Division in the country. Cecilia, as the president deals with tone, hes also dealing with a new headline breaking late today, just as we came on. The Washington Post now reporting that robert mueller, the special counsel, could be investigating the president for possible Obstruction Of Justice . This report says that essentially the President Trump is now part of this investigation personally, that theyre looking into possible Obstruction Of Justice. Former fbi director james comey just recently testified that he had told the president he was not personally under investigation, that was under his tenure. We did just get a statement from the president s legal team, they called this a leak thats outrages you, inexcusable and illegal. Cecilia vega with us from the white house, thank you. We do move on to other news here this evening. The other developing headline, a deadly Workplace Rampage in San Francisco. A u. P. S. Employee opening fire
on fellow drivers. Before they set out on their deliveries. And here, tonight, is abcs kayna whitworth. Reporter the call came in at 8 55 a. M. Possible active shooter. The suspect is an employee. Reporter a u. P. S. Employee dressed for work, opening fire at the morning drivers meeting, killing his coworkers. It was pop pop pop, about seven shots. And then he fired at least five to six more outside. I have two people shot. Cpr in progress. I need two ambulances here now. Reporter employees rushed to safety. Area residents ordered to shelter in place, one snapping this photo of workers on the roof, hands in the air. They were escaping to get away from the gunman. Reporter Police Closing in with Armored Vehicles as they searched for the suspect, and secure the building. David, five workers were shot three were killed, before the gunman took his own life, david . A difficult night for the news, kayna. Theres still much more ahead on World News Tonightthis wednesday the new alert of a police nationwide manhunt for two dangerous fugitives. The escaped prisoners accused of killing two guards. What authorities have now revealed this evening. Also, much more on that highrise Apartment Building up in flames. The death toll rising and we have learned of the mother who dropped her baby nearly ten stories to safety. Then, the Passenger Plane in this co