ABC News‘ Serena Marshall talks to Alexandria, VA residents who say they called 911 after hearing gunshots from the shooting at a congressional baseball practice.
Transcript for Alexandria residents say they called 911 after hearing gunshots
Mr. Marshall in Alexandria Virginia at this site the congressional baseball practice shooting just over folder path is there’s. If the baseball field where that happened earlier this morning and US national we have Reba and George you know it just live in this house right here. Basically few houses down lions CA. You’re here when it happened this morning Helen of black what you experienced. When we were out on our front porch my husband was getting something out of the car or me when I heard the shots fired. And somebody yelled get the hell out of the way or get the hell out of here and so at first I thought that it was some kind you know. Domestic dispute her like somebody selling someone to get out within. A property tech thing and that I have heard more shots fired and I’ve sent my husband about the gunshot. Alexandria of course as they no firearms discharge law so we don’t hear gunshot around here now with unmistakable and you Wear industry. Yeah I was in the street getting. My wife car and while I was out here shot for coming down the street and that horse I could hear it ricochet shots coming down the street so I decided they just run inside the house. Actually hear the gotten out of Google going yes and where they went straight to block right now artistry you know. And I was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher at that points telling him that there was shots fired. And they could hear the bullets still shooting in the background she asked that was active shooter and I said yes it is inaccurate that unmistakable we reasonable coming past. And that’s at a bullet just went down our street she said cute everyone inside. And that she said chip hang up with me through so many other callers coming out calling him that she needed to answer the other calls she says just call there’s anything. Anything else happens. I saw a bunch of people are an exercise closest fleeing the scene with literally running for their lives. There is a woman who ran and hid in her car down street there’s not a man who hit behind a tree just anywhere that taking cover anywhere they could. There was one and a few moments later who came down the street. And I overheard him talking to my neighborhood also come out on her porch at that point and said my car is up there I can’t go anywhere but I have to get the hell out of here. I’m talking about fleeing situation he actually saw the shooter shooting from the first few shots out Europe telling you earlier about this set up in the locker our viewers therein. Part that is the wine the yes the tall brick building at the YMC. You can see the gap between the tree in the push is over there that’s the walkway that goes up to Simpson fields and you can see through that. Area there is white they there right on the other side of that is third base dugout where this year was hiding. It Sam what’s he deciding between. The backup at third base dugout and a wood shed storage shed that was used for athletic equipment here background as from the eyewitness who was fleeing. Was running quick yes and there that’s. Not. Yet that can’t pass it’s my understanding that the first few shots he fired or right behind the dugout. And then he came out from behind the dugout trying to get certain people. And while he was doing that he was shooting people who were running towards the YMCA so he literally changed his trajectory. To follow people and as he did that I guess he swung past where the YMCA is and where a street shot down their when he turned around. So he must have just been you continually shooting while that was happening about how long did you hear the gunshots and it sounds go on for. It’s like a long time I think it was a moment. You know three minutes. It was a lot of shots and the police departments that they were on the scene in three minutes and most of this year less shots were done that after the initial ten to twelve shots there was applause. And then it started up again with about twenty or thirty shots. And then it stopped and then once the police typically spread on scene there was a couple single individual shots. I’m my next door neighbor whose former military city could hear there’s multiple caliber is being fired which makes sense knowing that the shooter had a rifle. And capitol police officers that were part of security detail at their pistols. Now when you we’re hearing all of this happening in your house sock covering for you when the first people to comment. Yes I was I went in after that first volley about tennis shops. And then grabbed the phone came back out so I could give any information to the dispatcher as things happening if I saw somebody running. Whip BO any injuries I could report that. But then what’s it is I heard the bullet flight on the street as a forget this you’re giving them information not where my life at this point. And so I went back inside until I heard the shots no longer fire. And I accompanied count some of the athletic people walked back with them up the field area and after everything was over after this all ended and you’ve got the phone. What gave you the confidence to lock back ups up the street and into their location. I saw some of the people that fled the scene walked back up that wakes of course their cars their belongings everything is up there. And I was just being curious neighbor I also have experience as any anti firefighter back in college. And so I think you know that there’s all of this support from police and medics and such I could be of help. Would offer it but they have more than how to covered. What did you see when you locks back up after this and I didn’t see much police the area where the victims were cordoned off so I couldn’t see anything there. But I was speaking with the person is sought the initial shooter from its first location and police did not have not part cordoned off yet because they didn’t realize that’s where where. And he’s ever insult showcasing him he’s like we need to police over here so I made sure to flag police officer comes clocked him saying the important at all. I spoke at an officer Lance that that’s what I was walking home has but an officer and said I live three doors down there gave my address and sent I heard shots and on the street. And I are operated with a neighbor who lives across the street from me he said that he. Thought he heard the direction and it went over to specific house which house do you think it went street on the street rethink it and it there is talk if you listen up blue house and so it. He thinks it went over towards the brown house. Oakland area treatment shot. Yeah well he was using a high powered rifle so it went through two sheets of glass at the YMCA indefinitely and down the street. Now when you spoke to some of the witnesses that were there talking that way things for the time you besides just tries to cover at the time. They’re all in disbelief because this isn’t something that normally happens in our community it’s not something should happen any community. But. Because it was the congressional. Republicans ball game of course that loud ads different level of security to it. Thinking that of course their targets because some people have crazy ideas if such a political division in our country right now. With people feeling like they’re not hurt and be excluded from the system.
