The Latest on the Congressional Baseball Game Shooting
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Latest on the aftermath of the shooting of a Republican lawmaker and others at a baseball practice this week (all times local):
3:30 p.m.
Doctors say Rep. Steve Scalise (skuh-LEES’) remains in critical condition at a Washington hospital but is improving.
Scalise was shot Wednesday morning as a gunman sprayed bullets into a GOP congressional baseball practice. The bullet entered his left hip and tore through his pelvis, breaking bones, injuring organs and causing severe bleeding.
Dr. Jack Sava, trauma director at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, says several operations have controlled the bleeding and Scalise’s vital signs have stabilized. While he’s still under sedation, Sava says Scalise has responded to family members. But he will remain in the hospital for “a considerable period of time” and faces additional operations.
Sava estimates there are hundreds of bullet fragments in Scalise’s pelvis and says doctors don’t intend to try to remove them all, as that could cause more harm than good.
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2:17 p.m.
President Donald Trump says GOP Congressman Steve Scalise “took a bullet for all of us.”
The president says that because of the “tremendous pain and suffering he’s now enduring … our country will perhaps become closer, more unified.”
Trump also adds, as he’s said previously, that Scalise is “having a hard time, far worse than anybody thought” following the shooting Wednesday. Scalise was hit as a gunman sprayed bullets into a GOP congressional baseball practice outside Washington D.C.
Scalise remains in critical condition at a hospital near the Capitol and has undergone multiple surgeries. He was shot in the hip but the bullet tore through his pelvis and injured internal organs.
The president made his comments as he spoke in Miami to announce a new policy on Cuba.
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12:40 p.m.
House Speaker Paul Ryan has paid a visit to wounded Majority Whip Steve Scalise at the hospital.
The Friday visit announced by Ryan’s staff comes with Scalise in critical condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
The Louisiana Republican was shot in the hip Wednesday morning in the baseball practice shooting by an Illinois man with grudges against President Donald Trump and the GOP.
Scalise sustained serious injuries as the bullet traveled through his pelvis and injured internal organs. He’s been undergoing repeat surgeries.
On Thursday night Scalise was honored at the annual congressional baseball game at Nationals Stadium, where a record crowd showed up. Scalise is a member of the team and had been fielding balls at second base in preparation for the game when he was shot.
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