The FBI is investigating why a gunman opened fire Wednesday on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, wounding four people including a senior lawmaker.
The shooter — identified by the FBI as James Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old Illinois man — was fatally shot by police who were at the scene. Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority whip, was shot in the hip, and three others were also wounded. As a member of House leadership, Scalise has a protective detail from the Capitol Police.
“The FBI is actively investigating Hodgkinson, to include his associates, whereabouts, social media impressions, and potential motivations. This is an active investigation that continues to unfold,” the FBI said in a statement.
On social media and in letters to his local paper, Hodgkinson appears to have expressed strong opposition to Republican policies and support for left-leaning politics. These have not yet been confirmed as connected to the shooter.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who was in the race for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, said he had been informed Wednesday that the man had volunteered for his campaign. Sanders said he was “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,” the Vermont senator said.
Members from both sides of the aisle called for unity on Wednesday, as did President Donald Trump. “Everyone on that field is a public servant,” Trump said. “Their sacrifice makes democracy possible.”
Police and the FBI have said it is too early to identify a motive in the shooting. "While the subject is deceased, we continue to actively investigate the shooter's motives, acquaintances and whereabouts that led to today's incident," Timothy Slater, Special Agent in Charge of FBI's Washington Field Office, said Wednesday evening. He did say there is reason to believe Hodgkinson had been in the Alexandria area since March, living in his car.
One congressman at the scene, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), told reporters that as he left the field before the attack he believes he encountered the gunman, who asked him if it was Republicans or Democrats practicing. "I said, that's the Republicans practicing," Duncan said.
In 2006, Hodgkinson was arrested on two counts of battery. The charges were later dismissed.
The incident marked the first shooting of a member of Congress since the assassination attempt against Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords in 2011.
The Cipher Brief reached out to Todd Rosenblum, former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs, to get his thoughts on whether this would be considered a potential domestic terrorism incident and how government officials will handle the investigation.
The Cipher Brief: Should we look at this as a domestic terrorist incident?
Todd Rosenblum: Yes, in the classic sense that it is a person using violence to achieve a political aim, but no by today's generally accepted understanding of the term. Most people today associate domestic terrorism with white nationalist hate groups or religious extremist organizations, with members fueled by online exhortation. This is domestic terrorism but it also includes deranged individuals, like today's killer, who believe they should murder to advance a political point of view.
I see this as an act of domestic terrorism more like the tragic killing of innocents at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City 22 years ago [a bomb placed by Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people and injured hundreds of others], albeit, thankfully, on a much smaller scale.
TCB: How would a typical domestic terrorism investigation be handled?
Rosenblum: Federal and local law enforcement would sort through jurisdictional issues, but if the event is deemed to be a felony — and shooting a member of Congress and law enforcement officers most certainly is — the FBI would have lead on the case. All potential or actual acts of terrorism are felony offenses. Normally, the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) would pulse its records for links to foreign terrorist organizations and facilitators, but this case does not appear to be a normal domestic terrorist case. Others such as CIA and NSA would be part of the effort if there is a foreign nexus.
TCB: The alleged shooter has a history of arrests and was charged in 2006 with battery, although that was dropped. Would you characterize this as typical of domestic terrorists in the United States?
Rosenblum: Not really. American terrorists and domestic violent extremists tend to be driven by ideology and belief, whereas European domestic terrorists are more likely to emerge from gangs and criminality. Prison radicalization is far more pernicious in Europe than the United States (though it is a problem here too). That said, persons who have committed prior acts of violence presumably are more likely to move from ideation to actual violence in the future regardless of nationality.
TCB: How does the federal government work with local law enforcement?
Rosenblum: Federal, state and local law enforcement have made great strides in working together. Federal and state law enforcement have built institutional focal points for cooperation, such as FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) and State-led Fusion Centers. Both of these entities bring together federal, state and local law enforcement, along with other key players in emergency response and community groups, to share information and create more resilient communities.
Some localities, like the New York Police Department (NYPD) have built outstanding counterterrorism units that bring considerable potency to the equation. The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security has been quite beneficial in defining a "where to go beyond the FBI" point of contact for local communities.
TCB: What kind of intelligence sharing is typical of an investigation like this?
Rosenblum: Much of the data used in these kind of investigations is more information than intelligence. Fused together, the information may become intelligence vital to event forensics. Law enforcement will want to know as much as possible about the killer. Where did the person live? Who was he or she communicating with? Did the killer leave a trail of intent on social media? Is this part of a larger conspiracy?
TCB: Is there anything notable to you about today’s shooting you want to point out?
Rosenblum: A few things. First, the killer possessed far more potent fire arms than the law enforcement officers assigned to protect the member of Congress. Second, it is critical that leaders across the political spectrum condemn this act of violence, since the killer seems to have been driven by political cause. Third, there will be many who quickly point to pre-event signs that the killer was unstable, and law enforcement should have done more to prevent him from acting. But the reality is that law enforcement and social services only have so many resources to track threatening people and offer them a healthier path.
Local communities, family, acquaintances, and law enforcement are far more likely to see troubling signs and move to intervention before federal officials. Homeland security and preventing acts of domestic terror is most effective when it is a joint effort between federal and state government, as well as faith-based and community organizations. Awareness of signs and knowing who to tell is critical to prevention.
Mackenzie Weinger is a national security reporter at The Cipher Brief. Follow her on Twitter @mweinger.
