OnPolitics Today: The game will go on

And President Trump makes a call for political unity.

with Josh Hafner The gunman who opened fire at at baseball practice of Republican congressmen in suburban Washington on Wednesday left Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise and a lobbyist Matt Mika in critical condition, with three others injured. The suspected shooter, who criticized Scalise years ago on Facebook, died in wounds related to the incident. After the rampage, police beefed up security around the Capitol, a gun debate flared up yet again, and a president made an unlikely call for political unity. The Congressional Baseball Game for Charity will go on as scheduled tomorrow. It's OnPolitics Today, USA TODAY's daily politics roundup. Subscribe here. Chaos at the diamond Authorities identified the shooter as James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill., a 66-year-old who reportedly pushed a rifle through a chain-link fence before firing toward second base of Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Va. at about 7 a.m. Shots came rapidly. A cry of "active shooter" rang out. Mo Brooks, a congressman from Alabama, heard Scalise yell. A security detail of special agents returned fire. Alexandria officers arrived by 7:09 a.m, joining the gunfight. When shooting ceased, Scalise was seen on the ground near second base. He was shot in the hip and was listed in critical condition after surgery on Wednesday. Mika, the lobbyist, was reportedly shot several times in the chest and also remained in critical condition after surgery. Capitol Hill police agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey were wounded but in good condition. Zach Barth, an aide of Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, was wounded and in stable condition. Who was James T. Hodgkinson? Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old home inspector, was believed to have left his home in Illinois several weeks ago to stay in the area of Alexandrea, a city about 8 miles south of the Capitol. FBI Special Agent Tim Slater said Wednesday that it wasn't clear whether Hodgkinson was targeting Republicans, though he had a history of criticizing them online "Here's a Republican that should lose his job, but they gave him a raise,'' he wrote of Scalise on Facebook in 2015. In a March 22 Facebook post, Hodgkinson called out President Trump: "It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co." Hodgkinson had "apparently volunteered in Iowa" for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, prompting the Vermont senator to issue a statement saying he was "sickened by this despicable act." How Washington responded Trump made the announcement Wednesday that Hodgkinson had died from shots of responding officers and made a rare plea for political unity. "We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation's capital is here, because. above all, they love our country," Trump said. House Speaker Paul Ryan praised "the tremendous bravery of the Capitol Police" as the agency beefed up its presence visibly in response to the shooting. And America's ever-present gun debate reared its head again, with Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., who was not at the practice, saying he'd now carry his gun "in my pocket from this day forward." Elsewhere in politics: • Nearly 200 congressional Democrats sue Trump • Donald Trump, our oldest elected president, turns 71 • Senate OKs sanctions against Russia for election meddling • Trump extends effective date of travel ban order • He also wants to revise loan rules that aim to help students AD CONTENT by Taboola FOLLOW US Thank you for subscribing to On Politics. © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe from On Politics Why did I get this? Update my subscription preferences