DEVELOPING STORY: Two staffers for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) were injured on Monday after a person armed with a baseball bat entered the congressman’s district office and committed “an act of violence.”
Connolly said the attacker asked for him before attacking his staffers.
“An individual entered my District Office armed with a baseball bat and asked for me before committing an act of violence against two members of my staff,” Connolly said. “The thought that someone would take advantage of my staff’s accessibility to commit an act of violence is unconscionable and devastating.”
The staffers were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the suspect is in police custody.
Following, is a statement released by Connolly:
This morning, an individual entered my District Office armed with a baseball bat and asked for me before committing an act of violence against two members of my staff. The individual is in police custody and both members of my team were transferred to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Right now, our focus is on ensuring they are receiving the care they need. We are incredibly thankful to the City of Fairfax Police Department and emergency medical professionals for their quick response.
Rep. Connolly
“I have the best team in Congress. My District Office staff make themselves available to constituents and members of the public every day. The thought that someone would take advantage of my staff’s accessibility to commit an act of violence is unconscionable and devastating.”
Fairfax City police told radio station WTOP they responded within five minutes to the reported assaulted and said the male assailant has been arrested. They have yet to release the suspect’s name or the motive for the attack.
“This act of violence against @GerryConnolly‘s constituent services staff makes me sick. Everyone on Team Connolly is in my thoughts today,” Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) wrote on Twitter. “I wish those injured a quick recovery and thank the Fairfax Police for their swift response.”