'1 down, 216 to go': Republican lawmaker threatened after Virginia shooting

Steve Scalise was shot in the hip while practising with the congressional Republican baseball team

Following the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia at a baseball practice for Congressional Republicans ahead of a charity game, GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney received a threatening email.

The email sent to Tenney had the subject line "One down, 216 to go," Tenney's office confirmed to CNN.

"Did you NOT expect this? When you take away ordinary people's very lives in order to pay off the wealthiest among us, your own lives are forfeit. Certainly, your souls and morality were lost long before. Good riddance." the body of the email read.

Tenney, who plays for the bipartisan congressional women's softball team, tweeted about the shooting Thursday.

 

Tenney, who was a supporter of President Donald Trump's campaign, said this is not the first time she has received a threat, aspPeople have walked into her local office and said "I hope you die," she told CNN.

At least five people, including Rep. Steve Scalise, the third-ranking member of House Republican leadership as the majority whip, were hospitalised after the shooting.

A rifle-wielding man sprayed bullets on them during a practice session for an annual baseball game in a Washington suburb.

Scalise, who is out of surgery is said to be in critical condition.

President Donald Trump has informed that the gunman, identified by federal law enforcement sources as James Hodgkinson, died from injuries.

According to a senator, nearly 50 shots rang out during the exchange of fire between the gunman and the lawmakers' security detail.

About 25 senators and congressmen were practising for more-than-a-century-old Congressional Baseball Game scheduled for June 15 at Nationals Park when the shooting took place.

The CNN quoting congressional and law enforcement sources said the shooting appears to be a "deliberate attack" and lasted for about 10 minutes.

Congressman Ron DeSantis, who left the scene just before the shooting began, said a man had asked him if it was Republicans or Democrats practising as he walked to his car.