Police in Alexandria, Virginia have said they are investigating reports of a shooting involving multiple people at a baseball practice on Wednesday.
Senior Republican Congressman Steve Scalise was reportedly wounded in the shooting, one of his colleagues told CNN. Republican Mo Brooks from Alabama told the US news broadcaster that the Louisiana Congressman sustained "a hip wound."
Brooks added that three others were shot as well, including two law enforcement officers. Scalise's office said that the congressman was "in stable condition" at a nearby hospital and "undergoing surgery."
Alexandria police chief Michael Brown told reporters that five people "were medically transported from the scene" but would not immediately release information on their identities. He said that police received a call about an active shooter situation around 7 a.m. local time (11:00 UTC)
Alexandria police said on Twitter that the shooter is in custody and is no longer a threat.
US President Donald Trump said in a statement he was "deeply saddened" by news of the congressional baseball practice shooting and that he was monitoring developments.
In a Tweet, Trump said that Scalise was "badly injured but will fully recover."
Congressman a 'sitting duck' for shooter
Brooks said that he and other Republican lawmakers were practicing for a charity baseball game at the field in Alexandria which is located around 7 miles (11 kilometers) from the capital, Washington DC.
Michigan Congressman Mike Bishop said Scalise was standing on second base - located relatively in the middle of the field - when the gunman opened fire.
"I was looking right at him," Bishop told Detroit radio station WWJ."He was a sitting duck."
Around 25 Republican senators and congressmen were at the practice, according to Arizona Senator Jeff Flake who told reporters that around 50 shots rang out in the exchange of fire between Capitol Hill police and the gunman.
Scalise, 51, is the House of Representatives Majority Whip and the third-ranking leader in the House.