Republicans and Democrats got together for a moment of prayer at the second base where Steve Scalise was shot yesterday, and then they had a very special guest toss out the first pitch.
Capitol Police Officer David Bailey was injured at the shooting, but he was good enough to toss a baseball right into the catcher’s mitt.
Very moving moment when Capitol Police Officer David Bailey surprised the crowd; he threw out the first pitch — pic.twitter.com/LcCClUMIHH
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 15, 2017
Watch below:
Here’s what Bailey did during the shooting:
The two police officers’ quick-thinking instinct to confront — and shoot at — the gunman was credited with preventing a potential bloodbath of many of the nation’s political elite. Senators. Congressmen. Their staffers. All had gathered – along with children – to practice baseball for an eventual game to benefit charity.
“Had they not been there, it would have been a massacre,” U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., said to MSNBC.
As we have seen in other tragedies, the officers ran toward the danger while other people ran out. That’s their job, of course. And they did it – very well. As we have seen in so many tragedies, good counters bad.
Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Michigan, told “CBS Evening News” anchor Scott Pelley that Griner and Bailey “rushed onto the field as the congressmen and staffers fled.” CBS quoted him as saying, “The problem is that he’s got a rifle and they’ve got handguns, and it’s not a fair fight at that point in time. They knew they weren’t going to probably hit him. They just were trying to give us cover.”
Now that’s a hero.
Capitol Police Officer David Bailey — wounded in yesterday's attack — threw out tonight's first pitch. #CongressionalBaseballGame pic.twitter.com/68EpsNXFKM
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 16, 2017
I really hope this brings the country together. We need it, badly.