Rep. Brad Wenstrup, of Ohio, rushed to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise’s side Wednesday morning, as a stream of blood trailed behind the Louisiana congressman.
Scalise was shot in Alexandria, Virginia, where members of Congress were attending a practice for the GOP congressional baseball team.
During the baseball practice, a gunman opened fire and Wenstrup immediately went into medical mode, Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks said on CNN. Wenstrup is a physician and a veteran of the war in Iraq.
“I held a cloth over the wound to stop the bleeding as Brad was getting some kind of scissors device to cut through the pants to try to have better access to Steve Scalise’s wound and his hip,” Brooks said.
“I put pressure on his wound in his hip,” Brooks said, adding that Wenstrup started to focus on minimizing blood loss. “Shortly thereafter the police showed up, and a helicopter landed in center field and took away whomever the folks decided was the most wounded, most critical.”
An aide for Wenstrup said he is unhurt, and that Wenstrup described the shooting as similar to “being in Iraq again, only without his weapon.”
Scalise’s office released a statement following the shooting.
“Whip Scalise was shot in the hip. He was transported to MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he is currently undergoing surgery. He is in stable condition,” the statement said. “Prior to entering surgery, the Whip was in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone. He is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues.”
Another victim of the shooting was a staff member for Texas Rep. Roger Williams, Williams said in a statement. The staff member is receiving medical attention, according to Williams.
The shooting appeared to be a “deliberate attack,” congressional and law enforcement sources said.
