Press Releases

U.S. Representative Don Beyer met this morning with officers from the Alexandria Police Department and paramedics from the Alexandria Fire Department who responded to the mass shooting at Eugene Simpson Memorial Park earlier this month. He also spoke with Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, who assisted local law enforcement in the response that morning.

Beyer presented the first responders with a framed copy of his Congressional Record statement honoring their bravery and that of the Capitol Police. Text of that statement follows below:

HONORING THE FIRST RESPONDERS

OF THE JUNE 14, 2017 SHOOTING AT EUGENE SIMPSON PARK

______________

HON. DONALD S. BEYER JR.

OF VIRGINIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Mr. Beyer – Virginia: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the City of Alexandria’s First Responders to the scene of the shooting at Eugene Simpson Memorial Park in my district in Alexandria, Virginia.

Two weeks ago today, Wednesday, June 14^th, around 7:00 a.m., a man fired scores of shots at Members of Congress who were practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. The shooting wounded House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, Capitol Police Officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, Congressional staffer Zack Barth, and former Congressional staffer Matt Mika.

The timely response of Alexandria’s First Responders almost certainly saved lives. Alexandria Police Officers Nicole Battaglia, Alexander Jensen and Kevin Jobe arrived within minutes of the 911 call. Officer Battaglia came under fire upon arriving at the scene, and Officers Jensen and Jobe immediately engaged the shooter upon arrival. In the opinion of Alexandria Police Mike Brown, the officers showed true bravery as they responded to a combat zone before working with Capitol Police to neutralize the shooter. Medical care provided by members of the Alexandria Fire Department, including Fiona Apple and Richard Krimmer and dozens of other paramedics and firefighters who operated while the scene was still dynamic, ensured this senseless act of violence did not become a multiple fatality event.

I am honored to commend these valiant individuals for their selfless service; I thank them not only for saving the lives of the victims of this evil, mindless gun violence, but for their daily positive impact on the extraordinary community of Del Ray in the exceptional City of Alexandria.

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