Wednesday, June 14, 2017

James T Hodgkinson: What we know about Virginia suspect


James T Hodgkinson in an 2006 mugshot from St Clair County, Illinois, where he resided
James T Hodgkinson died after allegedly exchanging gunfire with police at a baseball practice for Republicans in Virginia. Who was he?

Multiple US media sources have identified Hodgkinson as the man police believe shot and wounded congressman Steve Scalise and injured three others. He was carrying an assault rifle and a pistol, according to authorities.

Five people were taken to Washington DC-area hospitals and President Donald Trump himself revealed in a national address that Hodgkinson had died.

He
has been identified as a 66-year-old man from Belleville, Illinois, which is a small city just across the Mississippi River from the city of St Louis, Missouri. He was self-employed until recently and worked as a home inspector.
Michael Hodgkinson, the suspect's brother, told the New York Times that James had become upset about the election of Mr Trump and had moved to the Washington DC area "out of the blue" to protest.

Hodgkinson's criminal record in St Clair County, Illinois, shows many traffic violations, along with more serious charges of battery and causing bodily harm in 2006, though those charges were dismissed.

According to court documents, the 2006 altercation took place after Hodgkinson tried to retrieve a 16-year-old girl believed to be his daughter from her friend's house.

A 1992 mugshot of Hodgkinson

The officer who responded wrote in his report that the girl, a student who resided with Hodgkinson and his wife, said he dragged her by her hair and beat her, then sliced into her seatbelt with a pocket knife and choked her after she tried to drive away.

He also allegedly shot at one of her friends with a 12-gauge shotgun and punched another 16-year-old girl in the face.

According to local authorities, the 2006 charges against Hodgkinson were dropped after the victims failed to appear in court.


According to ABC News, Hodgkinson's wife told the network that her husband moved to Virginia two months ago.


A Facebook account that appears to belong to Hodgkinson is filled with anti-Republican and anti-Trump posts, as well as expressions of support for former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
An acquaintance of the suspect confirmed that he had campaigned for Mr Sanders during the election.

Mr Sanders, a Vermont senator, commented that he was "sickened by this despicable act" and condemned Hodgkinson's actions.



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