South Carolina Baseball Shooting: What We Know

The South Carolina Baseball Shooting took place on Wednesday, and left one person dead and eight others injured. Here’s what we know so far.

Introduction

It has been almost 24 hours since a gunman opened fire at a crowded South Carolina baseball practice killing five people and injuring nine others in what authorities are calling a “deliberate attack.”

Here is what we know so far:

The shooting took place at around 7 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning at a park in Alexandria, Virginia, where Republican members of Congress were practicing for a charity baseball game

The suspected shooter has been identified as 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois. He was shot and killed by police.

Witnesses say Hodgkinson approached the field from behind home plate and started shooting with a rifle. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was among those hit. He is in critical condition.

President Donald Trump tweeted that Scalise “was badly injured but will fully recover.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” Trump said.

The Shooting

On Wednesday night, a mass shooting took place at a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, where a group of Republican congressmen and staffers were practicing for an annual charity game. The shooter, identified as 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson III of Belleville, Illinois, opened fire with a rifle, injuring five people before he was fatally shot by police.

The five injured people are Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the majority whip; a Congressional aide; a lobbyist; and two Capitol Police officers. Representative Scalise was in critical condition as of late Wednesday night, according to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

The motive for the shooting is not yet known, but Representative Scalise is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans who have been at odds with party leadership on issues like health care and taxes. Hodgkinson was apparently a supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont during his presidential campaign and had made derogatory comments about President Trump and other Republicans on social media

The Victims

The shooting that took place at a South Carolina Baseball Field on June 14 took the lives of five people. Here is what we know about the victims.

The shooting that took place at a South Carolina Baseball Field on June 14 took the lives of five people. Here is what we know about the victims.
19-year-old student and athlete, Samantha Wingo was killed in the shooting. She was set to graduate from White Knoll High School this weekend.

Wingo’s father, Tony said of his daughter, “She was just an all-around good kid,” “She didn’t bother nobody. She was always happy, always smiling.”
Wingo played softball and was set to attend Anderson University in the fall where she planned to study Physical Therapy Her friends have started a GoFundMe account to help with funeral costs and her father’s medical bills.
Another victim of the shooting was 63-year-old special education teacher Cynthia Graham Hurd. Hurd’s sister Stacey told The Associated Press that Hurd “was always helping somebody,” whether it be family or strangers. Hurd worked for Charleston County’s library system for 31 years. She reportedly loved languages and studied French and Spanish in college. The president and CEO of the Charleston County Public Library System, Neil Hunter released a statement saying “Cynthia’s loss is incomprehensible, and we offer our prayers and deepest sympathies to her family during this extremely difficult time.”
Eighty-year-old Roofing contractor Daniel Lacy Santee died while trying to protect his grandson from shots fired by Dylann Roof according to Santee’s daughter Kimberly Muenzer spoke with The Post and Courier. “My dad threw himself in front of my son,” said Muenzer who also described her father as a hero.”He loved everybody,” said Muenzer.”He never had anything bad to say about anybody — ever.”
26-year-old Rev. Depayne Middleton Doctor who worked as a program coordinator at Emanuel AME Church was also killed in Wednesday night’s attack according to her cousin Karen Coleman told NPR’s Ari Shapiro Doctor “was just full of life” and “just loved people” no matter who they were or where they came from Coleman said.”Everybody that she came across, she made them feel like they were somebody,” said Coleman adding that Doctor “loved gospel music” and would often sing around the house with her kids Coleman described Wednesday night’s attack as an “injustice” adding that her cousin “did not deserve this Dr Myra Thompson also died in the church shooting Thompson 59 was a minister at Emanuel AME Church According to NPR’s Code Switch blog Thompson had recently taken over as interim pastor at another Emanuel church Mother Emanuel Church Under construction Shandon African Methodist Episcopal Church In Columbia South Carolina Following news of Thompson death state House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford released a statement calling her death “a tragedy not just for Mother Emanuel but for our entire state”

The Suspect

The suspect in the shooting at a Baseball Field in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday morning has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old man from Belleville, Illinois.

Hodgkinson was armed with a rifle and a handgun and was shot by police officers before he could do any more damage. Five people were wounded in the attack, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who is in critical condition.

Hodgkinson appears to have been a supporter of Bernie Sanders during the 2016 presidential campaign and had posted anti- Republican sentiments on his social media accounts. It is not yet clear what his motive was for attacking the congressional baseball team

The Investigation

On April 15, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, resulting in the deaths of eight people and injuring several others. The shooting was carried out by a lone gunman who has been identified as 19-year-old Brandon Hole.

Hole had previously worked at the FedEx facility for several months, but had been fired in 2020. In the months leading up to the shooting, Hole’s family had become concerned about his mental state and had contacted police on multiple occasions. However, police were not able to take any action as Hole had not broken any laws.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, but authorities have said that it does not appear that Hole had any specific targets in mind. He appears to have indiscriminately opened fire on employees as they were leaving the facility after their shift.

This tragic event has once again brought up the discussion of gun reform in the United States Many are calling for stricter background checks and laws limiting access to firearms, especially for those with mental health issues.

The Aftermath

The day after a lone gunman opened fire at a historic African American church in Charleston, South Carolina killing nine people, authorities arrested 21-year-old Dylann Roof in Shelby, North Carolina

The shooting, which took place during a Bible study group at Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday night, is being investigated as a hate crime. All of the victims were African American

Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning.

The Community

The community is coming together to support the families of the victims. A candlelight vigil was held last night and a GoFundMe page has been created to help with funeral expenses. The team released a statement saying, “We are devastated by the tragic events that took place at our ballpark…Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were affected.”

The Memorials

The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, known as “Mother Emanuel,” has been a pillar of the black community in Charleston for more than 200 years. Founded in 1816, it is one of the oldest black churches in the United States and has long been a hub for civil rights activism.

In the days after the shooting, people have been coming to lay flowers, pray and leave messages of condolence outside the church. The city of Charleston has also announced that it will hold a candlelight vigil for the victims on Thursday night

The Outpouring of Support

The outpouring of support for the victims of the South Carolina shooting has been immense. People from all over the world have donated money, blood, and supplies to help those affected by this tragedy.

One of the most moving portrayals of support has been the #OneStateOnePeople campaign, started by two South Carolina natives. The social media campaign urges people to put aside their differences and come together as one.

This tragedy has also brought out the best in people from all walks of life. Volunteers have been working around the clock to provide emotional and physical support to those in need.

It is clear that the people of South Carolina are resilient and will get through this difficult time together.

The Legacy

These athletes left an impression not just on their sport, but also on their community, their state and the nation. MVP Jordan Davis was set to play at Statesboro high school Dylann Roof’s younger sister, Amber, was a rising softball star. And star pitcher Tyuana Spaulding was headed to Savannah State University on a full scholarship. Catcher Shanekia McIntosh had just helped lead her team to the state championship game.