BENTONVILLE -- Violence intruded into the world of sports when a gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity versus Democrats last Wednesday.
Five people were wounded during an attack at an Alexandria, Va. baseball diamond: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.); Capitol Hill police agents, Crystal Griner and David Bailey; Zach Barth, a member of Congressman Roger Williams (R-Tex.) staff; and Tyson Foods lobbyist Matt Mika. The annual game serves as a fundraiser for charity and benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, major league baseball's Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, and Washington Literacy Center.
Questions about the incident were directed to Congressman Steve Womack (R-Rogers), who has represented Arkansas's 3rd Congressional District since 2011 and serves on the House Appropriations Defense, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Labor-Health and Human Services subcommittees and the House Committee on the Budget, while he was visiting with constituents at Bentonville Saturday.
A family of athletes that includes a former high school softball coach and a former high school softball player asked Womack if he was in the vicinity when the attack occurred. Womack said he no longer plays baseball and wasn't present because he was writing a speech, but filled in details of what he has learned.
According to Womack, a fence around the practice field separated the gunman from his targets. Scalise had the only armed escorts present.
"Inside that fence were 25 of my colleagues with nothing but a baseball bat and a stone dugout to protect themselves," Womack said.
When shots rang out some hid in the dugout, while Griner and Bailey returned fire which kept the gunman from shooting more people. The gun battle lasted several minutes before the gunman was wounded to where he could no longer fire. The shooter, identified as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill., later died from his wounds.
"He had a list of names. He had another 200 rounds on him, he was there to kill them," Womack said.
The event, regarded as an opportunity to put aside political differences, with members of Congress playing baseball against each other for charity, was played as scheduled Thursday at Washington Nationals Park with the Democrats winning, 11-2.
The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity generally draws about 10,000 people, but, according to organizers, sold more than 20,000 tickets and raised more than $1 million for charity. The number represents almost double of what was raised last year. Bailey threw out the first pitch.
According to the event website, starting this year funds raised from the event will also benefit the United States Capitol Police Memorial Fund and the Fraternal Order of Police as a show of support and gratitude to the United States Capitol Police officers "who put their lives on the line every day and especially during the Republican practice on June 14."
Womack said one of the consequences of the attack is a change in security for members of Congress, especially when they congregate.
"It's sad, but never again will several members of Congress go anywhere together without somebody there to protect them."
May God save Congressional baseball.
Sports on 06/21/2017