ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The charity baseball game between Republican and Democratic Congress members will go on as planned while investigators continue wokring to figure out what led up to the shooting.
Residents in that Virginia neighborhood are still reeling from the shootout that happened feet from their homes.
Before Wednesday, it was just a baseball field in a popular park in northern Virginia, but well into Thursday, FBI agents continues to comb through the park, at one point even bringing out a K-9, collecting evidence, trying to piece together what exactly happened during the rampage Wednesday morning.
FBI investigators using two sets of K-9s, still laying down evidence markers in outfield. Crime scene is huge. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/IPEN9SxzWG
— Jason Law (@JasonLawNews) June 15, 2017
"It was very loud. That's why I thought it might have been a pile driver or something at a construction site nearby,” said neighbor John Patrick.
Patrick didn’t realize it, but it was dozens of rifle shots that woke him up.
“They were so loud, it didn't really come off to me as gunfire,” said Patrick.
Patrick was so convinced it was construction noise across the street, he went back to bed.
FBI investigators continue to walk the grounds at this park in Alexandria, Virginia. Incredible amount of law enforcement remains. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/TwyXzQWj8t
— Jason Law (@JasonLawNews) June 15, 2017
"It was amazing something like that happened and we didn't have any bullet holes in our windows,” said Patrick.
A lot of people were in bed or getting ready for work Wednesday when investigators say 66-year-old James Hodgkinson opened fire on republican lawmakers playing baseball. Five people were injured, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise from Louisiana.
Thursday, FBI agents were back out at the ballfield, collecting evidence and canvassing a very large crime scene.
Crime scene tape is wrapped around the entire Eugene Simpson Sporting Complex in Alexandria, Virginia. The park consists of several baseball fields, tennis courts and basketball courts. Local streets also remain closed.
FBI agents continue to comb the field at Simpson Stadium Park in Northern Virginia hours after Wednesday morning's shooting. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/50wGkaR4Os
— Jason Law (@JasonLawNews) June 15, 2017
Witnesses said Hodgkinson fired as many as 50 or 60 shots over several minutes. Two capitol police officers are credited with returning fire, and slowing down Hodgkinson's attack.
"I think, right now, all we focus on is wrapping our mind around the people who are injured, around the community. There's no wrapping your mind around crazy,” said Kathleen Sharp whose relative lives near the park.
The investigation will eventually conclude and the crime scene tape will come down, but this beautiful neighborhood ballfield will forever have a terrible story to go along with it.
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