and from bellville, illinois, which is just outside of st. louis. again, i want to tell you where i am. this is theu teen jim son stadium park on east monroe avenue. we're standing on leslie avenue for perspective in the neighborhood. the ymca where some of bullets landed is past me beyond the police tape and beyond the activity there as investigators work for a very long day. i would love to be able to show you more about what is occurring but, adam, i think you're going to tell us more about what happened there today. >> let's give you a gee traffic perspective where this happened. this is eugene simpson stadium park. this is route 1. up here to the north and east would be reagan national airport. down here to the southeast would be old town alexandria. the shots first rang out behind the 3rd base dugout. that will be right here. just beyond that, this is the ymca that was hit by some of that gunfire. now, senator jeff flake who was there at the practice said he heard the shots, saw the shooter behind the 3rd base dugout and behind the fence. the

he's identified at james hodgkinson of bellville, illinois. his social media postings are filled with horrendous ant trump rants and senator bernie sanders learned that the shooter volunteered on his presidential campaign. sanders called the shootings a despicable act. president trump issued a call for unity saying, quote, we all can agree we're blessed to be americans, and added we are strongest when we're united and when we work together for the common good. that echoed by the house speaker paul ryan and the minority leader nancy pelosi who both made very emotional appeals for harmony. i'll talk to a witness and survivor. republican congressman mike bishop michigan. he was there on field and our correspondents, specialists and guests, they are standing by with full coverage of the day's top stories. we have more information coming in right now on the shocking attack. i want to quickly go over to cnn's brian todd, i should say, over at medstar washington hospital center. brian, what are you learning? >> reporter: wolf, tonight congressman ste

bellville, illinois, 66, left a trail of information for investigators on his social media. including face book. there was anti-trump postings his facebook page. i'm going to read a few. quote, trump is a traitor and destroyed our democracy. quote, it's time to de trump and co. suspect he menlt meant company there. so those are just two postings. those were posted in march. he also called republicans quote clowns. so for those who think and senator rand paul mentioned that maybe this was politically motivated. this is the type of information that suggests that perhaps it was. it is still early. the fbi is leading the investigation and there they're still searching for a motive officially b fbi officials earlier today, they feel like they have a pretty good handle on this investigation. now it's unclear what that means. but clearly they have some information that leads them closer perhaps to a motive in this case. and when you look at this social media and these postings that were allegedly put on social media by the suspect, it suggests that yes, he was following politics ce

kris neges is with our affiliate knov outside the gunman's house in bellville, il90. what can you tell us? >> good morning, jeff, gayle and charlie. it is a well kept home. when we arrived there was nobody here. it is a private street, it is in a rural area just outside the city center. neighbors told us they have not seen hodgkinson in months. they tell us they feel sorry for his wife. she is going to bear the brunt of this. she still lives in the house. >> rose: the speaker of the house is about to talk. here it is. >> we ask your blessing on our brother representative steve scalise. the two officers and the staffer who have been shot. police the hands of those who tend to their injuries. we, as americans, are blessed by a free and open society, with rights, secured by law, and the constitution. but once again, we are reminded that there is a vulnerability that comes with that openness. may we all be vigilant in being good citizens, neighbors, and defenders of our way of life, at a time when so many challenges to our way of life and government seem under siege. we t

he was identified as 66-year-old james hodgkinson of bellville illinois, a self described democraticteered for bernie sanders presidential campaign. lawmakers and president trump offered condolences today. both parties called for unity and putting politics aside. >>> storm activity in parts of the viewing area, not a whole lot >> not much. and far away from the beltway, so here in dc it will be storm-free and rain-free night. nats game got underway. we thought maybe they'd have problems, but doesn't look to be the case, still pretty warm out there but relief is headed our way. >> that's good. >> yes. >> you got the haze casting a shadow over the city as you take a live look. couple hours from sunset and it is still hot. temperatures hit 90 today. not as hot on the mercury as the past two days, but the humidity starting to feel uncomfortable out there throughout the day and we're not here in dc getting relief from the thunderstorms. easier commute home. but the rain, although temporarily does at least cool you off on warm summer evenings thunderstorms moving towards south is going to

age 66, a home inspector in bellville, illinois who allowed his license to lapse last fall. his social media profile reveals someone that spongely disliked republican policies and bit early opposed president trump. in march he wrote on facebook, trump destroyed our democracy, time to destroy trump and company. two days ago he used obscenities to describe the cabinet meeting and he said i hate republicans and everything they stand for. a family member says hodgkinson was distraught over last year year's election and work' a bernie sanders chairman. >> i am saddened by this despicable act and let me be as clear as i can be, violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society. >> reporter: hodgkinson was a prolific letter writer to his local paper. in 2011 he said republicans are quote full of hate. during the occupy wall street demonstrations, he talked to the st. louis fox affiliate. >> 99% are getting pushed around and the 1 % are just not giving a damn. >> reporter: the congressman from hodgkinson's district said he wrote or called the office ten times but never threatened.

home inspector bellville, illinois, which is east of st. louis, missouri. president trump says the suspect died after a shootout with security officers. witnesses say the suspect asked the lawmakers if they were republicans or democrats on the field. then opened fire spraying the area with bullets for up to ten minutes in length. happened this morning at a park in alexandria, virginia. he shot several people, including steve scalise and a police officer that was part of his security detail. first responders were carrying the louisiana congressman to an ambulance. the people ran for their lives. >> i heard a bunch of what appeared to be shots, pow, pow, pow. seemed like return fire. pow, pow, pow. i bet you 30 to 50 shots that i heard. >> bill: that's one witness. another witness saying he was across the street at the ymca when he saw the shootout between the gunman and the security officers were the congressman. >> he was crouched behind a wooden structure exchanging fire with police officers that were hiding behind a black s.u.v. one was shooting over the

police sayod bellville, illinois where he previously ran a home inspection business and had several run ins with the law. earlier this eve shared update on what they though about the suspect. >> as for the subject and this is the only time i'll be referring to him by his name, this afternoon we release aid statement noting that the subject name was james hod hodgkinson, 66 years of age of bellville, illinois. he suck onlyed to injuries at the hospital. and d.c. medical examiner issued cause of death as multiple gun shot wounds to the torso. >> reaction to sooting on social media #alexandria remained number one trending on twitter for most of the d day. >> tisha lewis continues coverage. >> shawn, tony, millions viewed this dramatic video showing shooting unfol the harrowing footage has been seen across social media platforms shared countless times and yet another sichbt world we liver in and how quickly information is shared posted and tweeted via social media. many of the comments where are polarizing and focused on politics. golden diva one says i'm beyond orrified and shocked about t

hodgkinson is 66 years old and hails from the bellville, illinois area where relieves behind a reported history of arrests and home inspection business. for the past few months, investigators believe he set himself up here appearing to be living out of his van. here on scene, we did see a mattress, pillows and other items pulled from the van. those things evidence in the investigation. the van was parked in the ymca lot where we understand he was a recent member and often seen inside on his laptop and keeping to himself but he was known to strike up conversations with other members including former city mayor bill euille. >> i encountered him monday morning at the y. he samed normeemed normal a he was no different. if somebody put two people in front of me and said this incident happened, pick the person you think may have participated, he would not have been on my list. >> and you will know, too, that van again still parked there. fbi agent haves been swarming the van and spots in the parking lot throughout the morning here. that van parked facing the simpson park baseball diamond wher

process a scene here in alexandria and fbi agents are searching the shooter's home, his residents in bellvillelinois. the subject's vehicle was located on the scene and has been swept by alexandria pd. the atf. we will be processing with our fbi evidence recovery team as well. obviously we are looking to glean what we can from the contents regarding his electrical devices that he owns. law enforcement has reason to believe that the shooter has been an alexandria, virginia area since march of this year. the fbi has issued again seeking information poster that is located on our web site asking the public to come forward with information on the shooter. to the local alexandria community we believe that the shooter has been living out of his vehicle in the vicinity of eastman road/street therefore asking to you report any interactions that you may have with him. likewise, the subject travels from his residence in illinois and we are asking and speaking with individual who know him personally and or who may have encountered him on his travels if you have any information please call the fbi 24 hour

hodgkinson is from bellville, illinois but it appears he's been in alexandria for some time. drinking at bars in del ray and hanging out at the y. former mayor bill yule remembers seeing him here on a daily basis. >> i would just characterize him as rational, a loner. really only spoke to me pleasantries every morning and never -- i never saw him actually have exchanges with any of the other members like he did with me and with the manager behind the desk. >> reporter: on facebook, hodgkinson had some strong and sometimes vulgar political thoughts. i want to say, mr. president, you're an expletive. you're the biggest expletive we've ever had in the oval office. now back in bellville, illinois, hodgkinson ran a home inspection business. but he let his expire. police say they were concerned about the way he was shooting his gun outside. back here in del ray i want you to take a look at the intensity of the investigation here. the mobile command centers, huge trucks, the feds, the fbi, atf, police officers from a number of jurisdictions. by the time this is all over, they're goi

the bellville news democrat. hodgkinson repeatedly wrote letters to the editor from 2010 to 2012, expressing concern about the unemployment rate and taxes. hodgkinson was arrested for battery in april 2006 for allegedly attacking his girlfriend. he also had other minor run-ins with the law dating back to 1992 when he was arrested for drunk driving. he was fired for his job as independent contractor in 2003 for quote unacceptable behavior. [ gunshot ] investigators found a vehicle on-scene they believe belonged to hodgkinson and used that to confirm his identity. atf is tracking two weapons, a rifle and handgun. congressman ron desantis said the gunman approached the car he left practice in with representative duncan. desantis said the laman he late recognized as hodgkinson, asked if those on the field were republican or democratic. >> i kind of thought to myself, that's strange but strange move that as soon as the news hit, jeff and i both had the same thought. >> we learned the gunman called and emailed his repu

the suspect, 66-year-old james hodgkinson of bellville, illinois the president will have a statement at 11:30 eastern in just about a half hour dow close to segment lows. let's get to it. >> we know the president will be speaking in the diplomatic room at 11:306789 we are getting new details from the white house press pool about how the president has spent his morning. we are told that the president and vice-president were notified of the situation in alexandria this morning the president has already spoken to the speaker of the house, the senate majority leader and the wife of congressman, steve scalise, the congressman that was apparently bad will you injured in that attack we are also told he has spoken to congressman steve scalise and the chief of the capitol police, which would norm will you not be under presidential jurisdiction but the president clearly reaching out to all of those individuals to offer his support and condolences an also to coordinate the federal government response. we will find out more from the president at 11:30 about what the government knows about this g

. >> reporter: james hodgkinson was last known to reside in bellville, illinois, where he was unemployed. police today raced to his home in a search for answers. >> one of the keys today is, was there a trigger? they're also going to be looking for, is he connected to anybody else that wants to do some version what was he did today? >> reporter: his social media accounts were filled with anti-trump sentiment. calling the president a traitor and saying trump has destroyed our democracy, it's time to destroy trump and co. he joined anti-republican facebook groups including one called terminate the republican party. two years ago he commented on this anti-scalise cartoon saying, here is a republican who should lose his job. he was an ardent supporter of bernie sanders, who today confirmed that hodgkinson volunteered for his presidential campaign. >> i have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the republican baseball practice this morning is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign. i am sickened by this despicable act. and let me be as clear as i can be. viol

hodgkinson of bellville, illinois. self described democratic socialist and former bernie sanders campaign volunteer. >> violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and i condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. >> reporter: that zen sent many echoed by president trump as well calling on lawmakers to put politics aside today. >> everyone who serves in our nation's capitol is here because above all they love our country. >> reporter: meanwhile lawmakers remained stunned but most are saying they won't be intimidatintimidated and their s will remain unchanged. >> continue to do your work. continue to be accessible and that's my plan. um, to continue to be out there in the community. >> reporter: congressional baseball game has been a tradition in d.c. since 1909. we are told it is game on tomorrow night. they will pay at nationals park. lucy and iain, back to you. >> 7:05c span is carrying from it what i understand. caroline, we heard there were also children there. >> reporter: yes, this really humaniz

sheriff's deputies responded to calls from residents who said he was shooting in the woods near his bellville house. >> we went over and talked to him. he was very nice. hey, i'll take it to a range where it's somewhere safer. >> reporter: officials said he had been in suburban washington, d.c. for the past six weeks and frequented an alexandria, virginia ymca that's directly across the treat from the ballpark. >> that was pete williams. >>> new developments in the russia investigation. "the washito is examining whether president trump attempted to obstruct justice. "new york times" list the intelligence officials to request an interview which requires dan coates and mike rogers and rick liggett who the "wall street journal" explains they documented a significant phone call between rogers and president trump. tra tracie potts is live in washington, d.c. >> reporter: we're learning about what may be going on inside this fbi investigation. keep in mind that dan coates and mike rogers both testified here recently and would not talk about their private conversations with president trump. what did

the shooter 66-year-old james kin son of bellville, illinois. he moved to virginia several months ago and lived in his car. he was known to frequent a ymca right next to the baseball field. he used to volunteer for the bernie sanders campaign. he says he's sick bed by this despicable act. live team coverage. lauren mayk spoke with the eyewitness who recorded video of the attack. we begin with tim furlong live at the scene. >> reporter: we just had a short while ago with a briefing that the guy was illinois was living in alexandria. they need to know what made him snap today in this park. >> e he shot this video from behind a trash can. >> sheltering in the child care center. >> reporter: republicans were at the baseball practice say the gunman was out looking for them. jeff duncan says hodgkinson e made sure he was at the right field. >> he asked me if this team was republican or democrat team practicing. i responded that it was the republican team practicing. and proceeded to shoot republicans. >> reporter: ultimately capitol hill police office

we know he's from bellville, illinois and that he does have an arrest record with charges ranging from damage to property and dui. he appeared to have worked at one point as a volunteer for the bernie sanders campaign and he did have the proper license to own a gun. however one thing that we just heard from a news conference in alexandria, virginia, authorities say he has been in that area since march living out of a car. >>> again, four people shot by a gunman at a gop baseball practice. now, including a congressman and leadership which is why capitol police as you heard were there and they were able to stop the shooter. our coverage continues of course online at fox29.com 24/7. we'll have another live report from washington, d.c. for in you just minutes. >>> happening right now, jurors in the bill cosby sex assault case are still at it tonight on day three of deliberations. looks like a little chance of a verdict within the next hour or so. no. and the people holding the fate of the em bammed comedian have requested multiple times to hear portions of the trial again. >> our bruce gor

sheriff's deputies responded to calls from residents who said he was shooting in the woods near his bellville house. >> we went over and talked to him. he was very nice. hey, i'll take it to a range somewhere where it was safer and that was the end of it. >> reporter: officials said he had been in suburban washington, d.c. for the past six weeks and frequented an alexandria, virginia ymca that's directly across the treat from the ballpark. >> thanks to nbc's pete williams for that report. >>> new developments in the russia investigation. "the washington post" reports special counsel robert mueller is examining whether president trump attempted to obstruct justice. "new york times" list the intelligence officials mueller requested to interview which include dan coats and mike rogers, as well as rick ledgett who the "wall street journal" explains may have documented a significant phone call between rogers and president trump. nbc's tracie potts is in zchlt c. this morning. >> reporter: this is a significant turn in the investigation if, in fact, robert mueller is looking into whether the presid

often, within the hour, result in a battering ram, opening the door of an apartment or house in bellville, illinois, in this case. as you point out there, so much imagery in our modern life, that you could be able to piece together a story, a narrative, of a guy like this, assuming it's this guy, coming from his home in illinois to washington, d.c. and what his travels have been the last few days. >> if it does turn out to be that, it would certainly not be the first time somebody sat at home, was stewing and decided to come here and shoot somebody. i recall several years ago, there was a man from colorado who was an upholsterer who got upset at the current climate about gun control and came here. francisco duran came here with a weapon and fired shots at the white house. fortunately didn't wound anyone, but he had a rifle and started to shoot through the white house fence. so these things do happen. if that's what it turns out to be. but they're still a long way from confirming what the motive is. as i say, many people told us they don't see this as an internationally inspired terror act

hodgekinso of bellville, illinois. he'll turn 67 in december, he would have turned 67 in december but presumably that's the house. they're looking for information on how long he planned this. if other people were involved. in terms of the motive, i should emphasize as we begin to discuss his past there's been no official word on what the motive is because, frankly, they don't know. they're aware of what we can see publicly which is that he had strong political views, he had expressed them on facebook, he was a prolific writer of letters to the local newspaper, he often showed up at political events, was a kind of a protester, had very strong anti-republican views and there was a 2006 complaint of assault from his girlfriend. she plain complained to police she pulled out his hair but the charges were dropped, we're told. but as far as we know there's no extensive violent criminal record here other than the domestic assault complaint that was never prosecuted. so the question what is are were his motives, when did he com

he then drove here from bellville, illinois just two days before the shooting, he texted a family member saying he was thinking of returning home, but instead he came here to simpson stadium park in alexandria carrying that hand gun and a rifle. the shooter acted alone according to the fbi. they say 66-year-old james tom hodgkinson told his family in march that he was coming to he was living in his van. he rented a storage unit in alexandria. >> we determined that the vhe visited his yununit more than 4 times. >> reporter: and the day he appeared at the field request a are not baseball team was practicing. investigators say he fired 60 times, more than 50 with an sks arriv rifle like this, the frrest froa hand gun. investigators say he had anger issues and was under train mentally. his posts include anti-republican rants. investigators say he had a list with the name of six members of congress on it, but they are not calling it a hit list. >> if you look at his pattern of life and what he was doing on his latch top aptop and social there was no indication in a >> reporter: the fbi will n

the shooter 66-year-old james kin son of bellville, illinois. to virginia several months ago and lived in his car. he was known to frequent a ymca right next to the baseball field. he used to volunteer for the bernie sanders campaign. he says he's sick bed by this despicable act. live team coverage. lauren mayk spoke with the eyewitness who recorded vidf

hodgekinson of bellville, illinois.ight president trump and the first lady went to the hospital to see congressman scalise. he later tweeted that scalise was in very tough shape. he called on his twitter followers to pray for steve. >>> and the shooting sent shock waves through congress. security at the capital is tighter than ever tonight, but in the hallways and meeting rooms, members of congress were standing together. abc7 news reporter mary breus has more. >> reporter: congressman steve scalise was looking forward to the big game. >> couldn't even make the high school team, but kind of bloomed later in life. >> reporter: the louisiana law maker, a proud raging cajun fan calling his wife before practice. lobbyist matt, one of the team's coaches shot in the chest. tonight in critical condition. and those two heroic officers, crystal griner shot in the ankle. and david bailey, a nine year veteran of the capital police, suffering minor injuries. both there to protect scalise, but protecting so many more. >> scalise get

process a scene here in alexandria, an fbi agents are searching the shooter's homeowner, resident is bellvilleas well. obviously, we are looking to glean what we can from the contents regarding his electrical devices that he owned. law enforcement has reason to believe that the shooter has been an alexandria virginia area since march of this year. the fbi has issued again, seeking information poster located on our website asking the public to come forward with information on this shooter. to the local alexandria community, we believe that the shooter has been living out of his vehicle in the vicinity of east monroe street. therefore, asking you to report any interactions that you may have had with him. likewise, the subject from his residence in illinois and we're asking and speaking with individuals who know him personally or who may have encountered him on his travels. if you have information, please call the fbi 24-hour tip line at 1-800 call fbi, and select option 1 or visit tips dot fbi.gov. the 24-hour tip line, 1-800 call fbi and select option one or visit tips fbi.gov. all tips will re

what we know is that he is from illinois where he was a home inspector from bellville, illinois. we know he had a run-in with the authorities in march when neighbors called the police and said they heard gunfire. the sheriff's office came out. you're looking at a picture of him. we'll get to this anti-republican groups issue in a moment. but the sheriff's office went out and talked to him and said you can't be firing your weapon near these houses. so he said okay, he would move away or go to a shooting range. but that indicates because of the number of rounds that were fired and because the sheriff says he had a rifle -- >> and pete, we've got an aerial shot of his house. you can see it's a residential area, but there is some wooded area and apparently he was shooting into those pine trees. go ahead, sorry. >> reporter: yeah. so that would indicate perhaps he had the rifle he used today as early as late march. what we're told by authorities is he had two weapons, that he had an assault-type rifle with multiple ammunition clips or magazines and a hand gun. we don't know yet whethe

he's identified as james hodgkinson of bellville, illinois, and he had been living in a van in alexandriach. >> we are asking and speaking with individuals who know him personally or who may have encountered him on his travels. >> reporter: the 66-year-old had history of anti gop activity and apparently had been volunteer for bernie sanders 2016 campaign. >> i condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. >> reporter: hodgkinson was arrested in the 1990s for resi resisting police and drunken driving and in 2006 for misdemeanor battery. >> never backed down from anybody. in a bar fight or whatever. he stood his ground. >> reporter: we're getting this update on the congressman's condition tonight. he remains in critical condition and will require additional surgeries mr. trump said tonight he's a real fighter. iain and lucy, back to you. >> all right, fox's caroline shive until washington, d.c. thank you so much. >>> of course as you just heard caroline mentioned congressman steve scalise does need more surgery he was hit way damage that injured internal organs and caused severe bloo

james hodgkinson, 66 years old, from bellville, illinois, shot and killed by police after he ambushed congressmen practicing baseball on the del ray field. it appeared hodgkinson has been in alexandria since april, former mayor bill yule remembers seeing him at the y on a regular basis. >> when i got word and saw the picture and i said, oh, my god, it's unbelievable. you sit there and talk to someone. he's very rational. seemed rational. >> reporter: recognize that man? >> yes, he's come in here before. >> reporter: that's jamie craig, he's a bar manager. she remembers hodgkinson as a frequent customer there. >> definitely creeped female bartenders out mostly. >> reporter: he would come in and order one thing. >> a budweiser. >> reporter: drink the beer, stare out the window. >> right. >> reporter: on facebook, hodgkinson had some strong and thoughts. i want to say mr. president, you're an expletive, you're the biggest expletive we've ever had in the oval office. back in the illinois, hodgkinson ran a home inspection business. police say they were concerned about the way he was shooti

according to his local paper, the bellville news democrat. he repeatedly wrote letters to the editor denouncing republican policies and expressing concern about the unemployment rate and taxes. >> hodgkinson was unemployed after quitting his own company late last year. he was fired from a job in 2003 for what his employer called, quote, unacceptable behavior. meanwhile the fbi is piecing together all the details about james t. hodgkinson's movements, where he got his gun, and jake, they are asking the public for any help they can give. >> jessica, thank you. >> he was a medical medic. brad win strap will join me next. plus i'll talk to a man who spent time with the shooter in the last few weeks. their interactions coming up. stay with us. the future isn't silver suits and houses on mars, it's right now. think about it. we can push buttons and make cars appear out of thin air. find love anywhere. he's cute. and buy things from, well, everywhere. how? because our phones have evolved. so isn't it time our networks did too? introducing america's

were exchanged before the attack finally ended, but not before the shooter, james hodgkinson of bellvilleding scalise and special agent griner. had they not been there, it could have been what several players have called a massacre. >> there could have easily been 25 deaths or more today, but officers griner and bailey prevented that it, and my family and i will be forever grateful. >> reporter: alex marquardt, cnn, alexandria, virginia. >> thank god they were there. their heroic story, thanks so much. thanks for being with me. have wonderful weekends. "the lead" with jake tapper starts right now. >>> thanks, brooke. jeff bezos spent $14 billion at whole foods, and he left with four stalks of organic asparagus and some hummus. "the lead" starts right now. episode 148 in which the president becomes his own leaker. president trump now tweeting that he's under investigation for potential obstruction of justice as even his lawyer looks for a lawyer. >>> you might have a better chance of finding out the truth of area 51 than getting a look at the republican senate health care plan. why so many

hodgkinson, 66 years old from bellville, illinois. the fbi says it's too early to know whether this was an act of terror or whether lawmakers are targeted for assassination. mo brooks was there at the scene, he used his belt for a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. >> i was getting ready to have batting practice and the first shots were pretty much past the third base dugout, maybe eight to ten feet. i'm looking at it from an angle. i hear the big bam and i thought it was a car backfiring until i saw the rifle barrel. a white male was taking careful aim at congressman, staffers, whoever he could get ahold of. >> reporter: let's go live to the scene. that's where barbara starr is. what have you learned about the happenings of this morning, also the victims and also what you're learning about the shooter? >> reporter: well, brianna, we're just about 25 minutes south of you at the site of the attack this morning. i want to mention, i think over my shoulder you can see a few minutes ago some very large black trucks that appeared on the scen

garage that he wanted to make sure that his tires were good enough to get him back on the drive to bellville, illinois where he's from. nothing has been found on his cell phone, on his camera or his laptop indicating that he intended to carry out an attack. there's no target list. there's no manifesto. there's nothing to indicate that he was scouting potential places to attack. so, what to make of this list of members? it's a fact in the investigation. it's certainly an interesting detail, but at this point investigators say they don't know what the significance of it is. now, obviously they've briefed the members of congress on the fact that this list was in his pocket, but they can't say anything beyond that of what the significance is. >> pete, thank you. >> you bet. >> now let's go back to the russia investigation with nbc's hans nichols at the white house. hans, what's the reaction at the white house to at least most people take the president's tweet as an admission that he's saying he's under investigation. i know a source close to his outside counsel says that's not so, but that's not

we know he was from illinois from bellville, illinois, a home inspector, and somebody had strong views he expressed on facebook. letters and calls to his local congressman. none of them over the years, although they were vie rently antirepublican, anti-president trump, none of them expressed any inclination toward violence. and people who know and talk to him say they never heard him talk in a violent manner, even when he called his local congressman in illinois, they say he never edged toward violence. they never felt threatened. nonetheless, the fbi says they are confident now he came here to the washington, d.c. area in late march and was living out of his car, a white cargo van, that he parked on the street where this baseball park is. the baseball park that you're looking at, he had parked his car on one of those streets. he was a regular at the ymca which is right across the street from the ballpark. he would hang out at a nearby drugstore. lots of people in the area encountered him. but they still don't know why he came here, whether he came here to do something violent, or whet

and they're reporting kind of flatly, the man that shot a congressman wednesday morning is from bellville. they identify him as being a member of a number of anti-republican groups including one called "terminate the republican party." pete, to your original point, it goes from alexandria, virginia, how he crossed state lines, what was going on, that change in his life that motivated him to to an act of violence and now as you also mention his death removes a component, a possible interview component from the investigation. >> one thing we don't know is if they managed to get anything from him as he was being taken from the hospital dpieespite th fact that he was severely injured. we don't know if he said anything on the way to the em s emt's. >> and pete, this is a difficult kind of violence to protect against. a man that is motivated by something in his own mind, armed to the teeth, yes, but all you can hope for is sharp minds and clear heads on the other end, and people who know a thing or two about safety. >> and just to go back peer, it will take some time to play out as well, the me

law enforcement sources identified the shooter earlier today as 66-year-old james hodgkinson from bellville, illinois, which is outside st. louis, missouri, though his wife did tell abc news that her husband had been living in alexandria, virginia, the last two months. the shooter's social media footprint and letters to the editor that he wrote to his hometown paper made clear his strong support for senator bernie sanders and his loathing of the republican party. he cursed president trump, labeled the president a traitor and called for his destruction in several facebook posts. the shooter died from his injuries after the shootout with capitol police, news that we were first told by president trump himself who had a somber and reflective message for the nation. >> we may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation's capital is here because above all they love our country. we can all agree that we are blessed to be americans, that our children deserve to grow up in a nation of safety and peace and that we are strongest when we a

known to many as tom, james hodgkinson grew up in bellville, graduating from a local high school in 1968. he lived in this house with his wife and ran a home inspection business until his license expired last december. ray page knew him for 30 years. >> i never have seen the man violent since i've known him. >> reporter: deeply engaged in politics, hodgkinson did not keep his views secret. and the 1% are just not giving a damn. >> reporter: in a 2015 facebook poej hodgkinson shared a political cartoon about yesterday's victim congressman steve scalise. he said, here's a republican who should lose his job but they gave him a raise. in recent months he began showing disdain for the current administration. in a march 22nd post, he wrote, it's time to destroy trump and company. just two days later a neighbor complained after hearing 50 shots fired from hodgkinson's property. >> he was very nice. he said i'll take it to a range where it's somewhat safer and that was the end of it. >> reporter: republican mike bost said he had called and september e-mails. >> he wasn't happy with my he'd vote

. >> he texted a family member saying i think i am returning home to bellville, illinois. his money was running out, and emotiona had no history of mental illness. >> and there's something about watching little leaguers taking that field, to take back their field. >> it's called simpson stadium and they had t-shirts that said alexandria is our city and simpson is our home. >> i think that's important where we have incidents of mass shootings and terrorism attacks in this country and around the world, and it's important for people living in an open society, and it's not to be cowardly and cringe but to express our freedom and being back on the field is what to do and we should not live behind barriers, and there was discussion about not reopening the field and that would be an outrageous message in the country if we did that. >> the republican lawmakers are fighting the incidents and using it to push what kind of response is that getting and how much support do you think there is for that, tom? >> there is some. brooks of alabama was on the field in alexandria and he said h

hodgkinson from belleville, bellville illinois, 66 years old, left a trail on his social media pages including facebook. there were some eanlt-trump postings on his facebook page. a few of them: trump is a traitor, he has destroyed our democracy. quote, it's time to destroy trump and co, i suspect he meant company there. and so those are two of the postings that we have. those were posted in march. he also called republicans, quote, clowns.so for those who think -- and senator rand paul mentioned this -- maybe this is politically motivated, this is the type of information that suggests that perhaps it was. it's still early, the fbi is leading this investigation and they'rl

the suspect, 66-year-old james hodgkinson of bellville, illinois the president will have a statement0 eastern in just about a half hour

hodgkinson is from bellville, illinois. investigators say he came to maryland in march and was living out of his van. hodgkinson did ask if the players on the field were republicans. >> he asked me if this team was the republican or democrat team practicing. i responded that it was the republican team practicing. and he proceeded to shoot republicans. >> reporter: on hodgkinson's social media account, a history of anti-republican and anti-trump posts. the president calling for unity. >> we may have our differences but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation's capital is here because, above all, they love our country. >> reporter: congressional leaders echoing those sentiments on the house floor. >> we are united in our anguish. an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. >> reporter: meanwhile, the congressional baseball game will go on as planned tonight, just over the potomac here at national stadium in washington, d.c. president trump apparently wanted to attend. secret ser

bellville, illinois. 66-year-old. a little older than what the description of the people who were there they had guessed to be in the 40s or 50s. they did say report him to be a white man. james t. hodge kin son. the port is reporting on him he had a home inspection business but that license expired in just november of last year >> they are roaring the 66-year-old man from illinois was indeed the shooter this morning. >>> that's the latest information now to come out that is new information we hadn't known the suspect's dent if the b no pictures right now. we her the photographer say had he had his photo journalism hat on he would have been able to get that picture but we do have the next best thing which is his age, 66 as holly mentioned from illinois. james t. hochkinson. >> as you can see from our live pictures everyone still in place there. it's still very much a secure situation. it's an active investigation that will go on for some time as we can imagine. the fbi and the latest press conference that we saw there

hodgkinson of bellville, illinois, died of his injuries in the shootout with police. again, that update from the hill. we're waiting for representatives joe barton and mike doyle. they are the managers of the republican and democratic congressional baseball teams. they're expected to talk to reporters here shortly. our live coverage on c-span3.

hodgkinson is from bellville, illinois just outside of st. louis. >> yeah. our colleagues out there at k sdk found out more about him in this report. >> we know that hodgkinson has had run-ins with his local police. it includes dui and misdemeanor battery. one man who stopped by the home said that he has known hodgkinson for decades and there is nothing in his background to indicate an act of violence like this. >> through the years, he didn't back down and stuff. he was in a few fights and stuff like that would demonstrate violence, what he did. >> what do you mean fights with people. >> he never backed down from anybody. in a bar fight or anything. he stood his ground. he wasn't evil. he was i guess tired of some of the politics that are going on. >> so the former mayor of alexandria said he knew james hodgkinson from the ymca. bill yule started seeing him after workouts in the morning. >> he even offered to help him find a job. as you expect the former mayor is stunned by what happened here today. >> well, i met him a little more than a month and a half a