WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, said in a statement that he was “sickened” by Wednesday morning's shooting in Alexandria, Va.

“My colleagues in Alexandria came under a targeted attack that has left me saddened, sickened, but also grateful that it was not as gruesome as it could have been,” he said.

Among those shot at a congressional baseball practice Wednesday morning, according to The Associated Press, was House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a congressional staffer, Capitol Police officers, and a lobbyist.

Also shot was James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill., who was the shooter.

He died of his wounds at a hospital.

Kelly spoke of Steve Scalise, who he called his friend.

“(I) have spent much of the day praying for his full recovery and that of the other innocent victims,” Kelly said.

“The fact that everyone at that field was practicing for a bipartisan baseball game for charity makes this attack all the more tragic and disturbing.”

Kelly also commented on the actions of the security officers on scene, whom Kelly said saved “untold lives.”

“I wholeheartedly salute them, and all of the Capitol Police, for their daily professionalism and service to our nation. As we move forward as a Congress and a country.”

Kelly said Americans need to “regain perspective about what your democracy should entail.”

“Fueling our politics with the unadulterated hatred we've seen in recent months only serves to dehumanize our leaders, denigrate our First Amendment, and endanger our fellow citizens,” he said.

“It's time to start seeing the best in each other, not only assuming the worst.”