Steve Scalise Still In Critical Condition But Has 'Improved', Hospital Says
Medics at MedStar Washington hospital center say that Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip who was shot at a GOP baseball practice in Virginia is doing better but remains in critical condition.
It would be recalled that in the early hours of Wednesday, a gunman identified as 66-year-old James Hodgkinson shot at Steve Scalise, congressional aides and Capitol Police officers before he was eventually gunned down.
“He remains in critical condition but has improved in the last 24 hours,” the hospital said. “The congressman will require additional operations and will be in the hospital for some time.”
President Trump, who had earlier visited the congressman on Thursday has called for prayers for the injured Scalise. The President described the Steve Scalise’s condition as “more difficult than people even thought at the time”
“He’s in some trouble,” Donald Trump said during remarks at the White House. “But he’s a great fighter and he’s going to be OK, we hope.”
The 51-year-old Steve Scalise was playing second base when he was shot by James Hodgkinson, who stood off the third-base side of the field.
Doctors say Scalise has broken bones and some seriously damaged internal organs as a result of bullet travelling across his pelvis. He was also bleeding profusely.
"He underwent immediate surgery, and an additional procedure to stop bleeding. He has received multiple units of blood transfusion," the hospital said in a statement put out by Scalise's office.
The congressional baseball game went on as planned in spite of Wednesday’s shooting incident.
The shooter has been described as a politically active person by those close to him. His Facebook page was filled with politically-inclined posts that showed he was a staunch and devoted Democrat. "Trump is a Traitor. Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy. It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co." is one of the posts on James Hodgkinson’s Facebook page. He also joined several Facebook groups with weird names such as "The Road to Hell is Paved with Republicans" and "Terminate the Republican Party."