A congressional official said that Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House of Representatives, was shot at a baseball field in Alexandria, Va., when a gunman opened fire near a Y.M.C.A. this morning. According to the New York Times,

Representative Mo Brooks told CNN that “at least five” people were injured — including two law enforcement officers and a congressional aide — while members of a Republican congressional baseball team were practicing. He told CNN,

“My adrenaline is raging. It’s not easy to take when you see people around you being shot and you don’t have a weapon yourself.”

Brooks said that members of a security team exchanged gunfire with the gunman, who was armed with a rifle. The gunman said nothing as he opened fire, Mr. Brooks said. About 50 shots were fired, congressional sources said.

He said he went to the aid of one of the victims and used his belt as a tourniquet to help stop the bleeding from a gunshot to his leg. He said it was about two to five minutes before other officers arrived.

Mr. Scalise, a self-described strong conservative leader, represents the First Congressional District of Louisiana, which extends from the New Orleans suburbs.

Mr. Brooks said Mr. Scalise was shot in the hip and was at second base and dragging himself into the outfield to get away from the gunman.

The Alexandria Police Department confirmed it was investigating a shooting and that an unspecified number of victims had been transported to hospitals.

The police said on Twitter that a suspect was in custody.

UPDATE, 10:10 EST: Congressman Scalise was shot in the hip. He is undergoing surgery and now in stable condition.

(Photo, Twitter ; via New York Times)