President Donald Trump has commended the heroism of the Capitol Police, first responders, and those present who acted bravely at the congressional baseball practise shooting in Virginia.

The President said that Representative Steve Scalise, a member of the leadership in the House of Representatives who was injured in the attack, is “a patriot and a fighter” who will make a full recovery from his gunshot wound. Mr Trump called for unity among Americans to work toward the common good.

“We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our capital is here because above all they love our country”, Mr Trump said during televised remarks from the White House.

“We can all agree that we are blessed to be Americans”, he said.

Mr Trump said during his remarks that the suspected gunman, 66-year-old James Hodgkinson, is died.

Mr Hodgkinson was from Belleville, Illinois, and reports indicate that he may have specifically targeted the group because they were Republicans.

Virginia Shooting Show all 20 1 /20 Virginia Shooting Virginia Shooting House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and others were shot Wednesday at a congressional baseball practice, officials said AP Virginia Shooting Police and emergency personnel are seen near the scene where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot during a Congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting A man receives medical attention from first responders on the scene following a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, US EPA Virginia Shooting The Republican House majority whip Steve Scalise and at least four others have been shot shot at a congressional baseball game practice session, according to media report EPA Virginia Shooting Police close a street near the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia EPA Virginia Shooting Police close a street near the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, USA EPA Virginia Shooting The Republican House majority whip Steve Scalise and at least four others have been shot shot at a congressional baseball game practice session, according to media reports EPA Virginia Shooting First responders on the scene following a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, USA EPA Virginia Shooting Alexandria, Va. Police Chief Michael Brown speaks about the shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich. talks on the phone while walking past a damaged vehicle at a shooting scene where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La. was shot at a Congressional baseball practice AP Virginia Shooting A Capitol Hill Police officer walks past an automobile with the driver's window damaged at the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn. is seen near the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting A Capitol Hill Police officer stands his post at the entrance to the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington AP Virginia Shooting Law enforcement officers investigate the scene of a shooting near a baseball field in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting An Alexandria, Va. police officer tapes off an area near the YMCA after a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. walks toward media gathered at the scene of a shooting at a baseball field in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting The baseball field that is the scene of a shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Law enforcement officers gather near a shooting scene at baseball field in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas and other members of the Republican Congressional softball team, stand behind police tape of the scene of a multiple shooting in Alexandria, Va AP Virginia Shooting Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala. meets with reporters in Alexandria, Va AP

In a show of resilience, the annual congressional baseball game scheduled for the next day will still take place. The announcement that the game would still be played in spite of the shooting drew a standing ovation from members of the House of Representatives.

Mr Scalise is the first member of Congress to be shot since former Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head in Tucson. Ms Giffords survived her attack, but her wounds left her with a disability, and she later resigned from her position in the House.