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Tags: Gunman | Deceased | Identified | Illinois

WashPost: Deceased Gunman Was 'Living out of Gym Bag' in Alexandria

WashPost: Deceased Gunman Was 'Living out of Gym Bag' in Alexandria
Purported photo of James T. Hodgkinson, alleged Virginia shooter. 

Wednesday, 14 June 2017 02:00 PM EDT

James T. Hodgkinson, 66, identified by law enforcement officials as the deceased gunman who opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a Virginia baseball field, was "living out of his gym bag" in Alexandria, The Washington Post reported.

Further, Hodgkinson who was shot and mortally wounded by police during the rampage, had been at the YMCA early Wednesday before he went to the ballfield where he allegedly carried out the attack, the Post reported.

"He was a very friendly person. But what I did notice about this gentleman is he'd open up his gym bag and in it, he had everything he owned. He was living out of the gym bag. That, and he sat in the Y’s lobby for hours and hours," former Alexandria mayor Bill Euille told the Post.

According to his social media, Hodgkinson was an avid supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders and a hater of President Donald Trump. 

ABC News reported Hodgkinson's wife said he had been living in Alexandria for the past two months, but was expected to return to Belleville, Illinois, in the coming days.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of Louisiana, was shot in the hip, but is stable and recovering after surgery, according to his staff. Four others —​ including two Capitol Hill police officers —​ also were wounded in the shooting.

NBC News reported there was "political or domestic motivation" behind Hodgkinson's attack, not international terrorism. However, the FBI is investigating it as a "deliberate attack," CNN reported.

To wit, Reps. Ron DeSantis and Jeff Duncan said as they were leaving the baseball practice early, they were approached by a man who asked if those were Democrats or Republicans practicing on the field.

Hodgkinson's purported Facebook page, which has since been removed, featured a picture of Sen. Sanders.

In March, Hodgkinson posted that "Trump is a Traitor. Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy. It's Time to Destroy Trump & Co."

Another post, from 2015, was aimed at Scalise, according to the Post.

"Here’s a Republican that should Lose His Job, but they Gave Him a Raise," Hodgkinson purportedly wrote, including a political cartoon that portrayed Scalise speaking to a group of people clad in Ku Klux Klan hoods, the Post reported.

Sanders on Wednesday denounced the attack.

"I am sickened by this despicable act," Sanders said in a statement. "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."

Sanders confirmed reports that Hodgkinson had worked on his campaign as a volunteer.

The Post also reported Hodgkinson owned a home inspection business, but his license expired in late 2016 and was not renewed.

According to the Post, Hodgkinson was charged in April 2006 with battery and aiding damage to a motor vehicle but those charges were later dismissed.

An Illinois local newspaper, the Belleville News-Democrat, posted a photo of Hodgkinson protesting outside a local post office in 2012, holding a sign saying "Tax the Rich."

He has a record of arrests on relatively minor charges, including failing to obtain electrical permits, driving under the influence and resisting a police officer, according to the paper.

A reporter for the paper has been camped out at Hodgkinson's home, sending updates via Twitter.

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Headline
James T. Hodgkinson, 66, identified by law enforcement officials as the deceased gunman who opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a Virginia baseball field, was "living out of his gym bag" in Alexandria, The Washington Post reported....
Gunman, Deceased, Identified, Illinois
615
2017-00-14
Wednesday, 14 June 2017 02:00 PM
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