Story highlights Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise was shot at a GOP baseball practice Wednesday morning

Scalise is the first sitting member of Congress to be shot since Giffords

Washington (CNN) Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was seriously wounded in a mass shooting in 2011, tweeted support for the victims and authorities involved in Wednesday's shooting in Alexandria, Virginia.

House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise was shot Wednesday morning at a practice for the GOP congressional baseball team. A congressional staffer, a lobbyist and two Capitol Police officers were also shot, and the suspect later died from injuries he sustained after exchanging fire with police at the scene.

"My heart is with my former colleagues, their families & staff, and the US Capitol Police- public servants and heroes today and every day," Giffords tweeted.

My heart is with my former colleagues, their families & staff, and the US Capitol Police- public servants and heroes today and every day. — Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) June 14, 2017

Later Wednesday, Giffords released a statement on the shooting.

"It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican, nor if you're a senator or a representative, nor a staffer or a sworn officer. If you serve the institution of Congress, you're connected to your colleagues, current and former, by a shared sense of service to ideals far greater than yourself. This shooting is an attack on all who serve and on all who participate in our democracy," the statement reads.

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