Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., strongly condemned the shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Virginia on Wednesday morning.

Authorities identified the slain gunman who injured at least five as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill., who was a fervent Sanders supporter in last year’s presidential election and according to numerous reports volunteered for the Vermont senator’s campaign.

Hodgkinson, who ran a home-inspection business, had expressed hatred for Republicans on social media and was highly critical of President Trump.

Sanders released a statement condemning the shooting in “the strongest possible terms.” Here is Sanders’ complete statement.

“I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the Republican baseball practice is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign. I am sickened by this despicable act. Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. Real change can only come about through nonviolent action, and anything else runs against our most deeply held American values. “My hopes and prayers are that Representative Scalise, congressional staff and the Capitol Police Officers who were wounded make a quick and full recovery. I also want to thank the Capitol Police for their heroic actions to prevent further harm.”

Earlier Wednesday morning, before learning that the gunman had supported him politically, Sanders tweeted that he was praying for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, the congressional aides and police officers who were wounded in the shooting.

Our prayers go out for a full recovery of Rep. Scalise, the congressional aides and police who were injured. We’ve got to stop the violence. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 14, 2017





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