Scalise’s wife: Capitol Police ‘saved the lives of everyone at the baseball field’

Jennifer Scalise, the wife of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), released a statement Friday thanking supporters for an “incredible amount of prayers” two days after Scalise was shot during a congressional GOP baseball practice.

Scalise and four others were injured Wednesday when a gunman opened fire on them at a baseball field in Alexandria, Va.

In the statement, Scalise thanks Capitol Police officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, who shot the suspected gunman despite both being injured themselves. Police identified the gunman as James Hodgkinson, who later died from his injuries.

{mosads}”On behalf of Steve and our children, I want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible amount of prayers and warm wishes we have received since Wednesday’s events,” Scalise wrote. “We are especially appreciative of the strong outpouring of love and support from our neighbors, friends, from Louisiana and across the country, as well as from President Trump, Vice President Pence, and all of Steve’s colleagues who have reached out to us during this most challenging time.

“Most importantly, we are forever grateful for the heroism of Special Agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey, who saved the lives of everyone at the baseball field that morning, including Steve’s. Crystal and David have been family to us for years, and we ask that you continue to pray for their full recovery.”

Statement from Jennifer Scalise: pic.twitter.com/UaA9PZSbQz

— Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) June 16, 2017

The statement was read aloud at a press conference by Brett Horton, Scalise’s chief of staff. Scalise was visited in the hospital Wednesday by President Trump and Thursday by Vice President Pence.

In a statement Thursday, a hospital spokesman said Scalise’s condition was “critical with imminent risk of death” when he was admitted, but was improving after several surgeries.

When Rep. Scalise arrived at hospital, “he was in critical condition with an imminent risk of death”: https://t.co/Okz2bwUl4f pic.twitter.com/06yKpa48Eo

— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 16, 2017