Gunman in GOP baseball practice shooting has died, says President Trump
President Trump delivered remarks from the White House after a shooting left five wounded in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday morning -- announcing the suspected gunman has died.
"A gunman opened fire on members of Congress and their staffs as they were practicing for tomorrow's annual charity baseball game," Trump said in his remarks. "Authorities are continuing to investigate the crime and the assailant has now died from his injuries."
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Officials identified the suspect in the shooting at a congressional baseball practice that left five wounded, including Republican Rep. Steve Scalise, as 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois.
A quick search of Hodgkinson's Facebook page reveals he appears to be an avid Bernie Sanders fan, with multiple images of and articles about the U.S. senator and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate displayed throughout his Facebook profile.
Sen. Sanders released a condemning statement on the shooting on Wednesday, saying he is "sickened by this despicable act."
"I am sickened by this despicable act."
Sen. Bernie Sanders condemns alleged shooter James T. Hodgkinson, a volunteer on his 2016 campaign pic.twitter.com/dom250sElU— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 14, 2017
"Trump is a Traitor," Hodgkinson wrote as a caption with an article shared on March 22. "Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy. It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co."
The last Facebook post Hodgkinson shared that is visible to the public was a petition calling for an end to the NEXUS Pipeline.
RELATED: Controversial reactions online to congressional shooting
According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Hodgkinson wrote a number of letters to the local newspaper -- often speaking out against Republicans, income inequality and tax policies.
"I don't want a president who won't even keep his money in American banks," Hodgkinson wrote in a August 2012 letter to the editor. "I don't want a president who will lower taxes on the rich and raise them on the other 99 percent."
According to his Facebook page, the suspect graduated from Southwestern Illinois College in 1971, listing he studied flight training and aviation technology. Hodgkinson is also the former owner of JTH Inspections, a company listed on Yelp as specializing in home inspections.
"James was thorough and professional," a Yelp review of Hodgkinson read. His Facebook lists that he left his position with JTH Inspections in December 2016.
