Five police officers received the highest honor given by the Capitol Police Department on Wednesday for risking their lives after a gunman opened fire during the Republican Congressional baseball team's practice earlier this year.
On June 14 in Alexandria, Virginia, House of Representatives Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot by James Hodgkinson, who opened fire on lawmakers during the morning practice.
Also wounded were U.S. Capitol Police Special Agent Crystal Griner, Congressional aide Zack Barth and lobbyist Matt Mika. All recovered from their injuries while the shooter was pronounced dead from his wounds later that day.
For their efforts during the attack, Griner fellow U.S. Capitol Police Special Agent David Bailey and Alexandria Police Officers Nicole Battaglia, Alexander Jensen and Kevin Jobe were awarded with the Medal of Honor, presented to them by Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa.
"So often you don't see the heroism, the bravery and the professionalism because they quietly do their job. But they do their job every day knowing that one day they may need to respond to some kind of tragedy," Scalice said during the ceremony before taking a moment to remember the victims of last week's deadly mass shooting in Texas and the recent rampage at a country concert in Las Vegas. "That day on June 14 could have turned out the exact same way. We all know what the outcome would have been if not for the heroism and the bravery of the men and women on this stage."
Also in attendance were House Speaker Paul Ryan, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
