Weapons & Guns

Rep. Pete Aguilar says the Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park will be the safest place to be in D.C. Thursday night ... and believes your elected officials are about to put on a very unique show.

We spoke to the California congressman, who's playing for the Dems in the charity game -- and he felt extremely confident in the ramped up security after Wednesday's shooting, which left fellow Rep. Steve Scalise critically injured.

Aside from raising a record amount of money -- more than $1 mil in a day -- he says this year's game will show, more than ever, that Democrats and Republicans really do get along. In fact, Aguilar says the parties get along way more than you'd think.

Of course, we rarely see that when it counts.

Republicans and Dems in the House are united and, surprisingly, fearless the day after the shooting that critically injured House Whip Rep. Steve Scalise ... and they're ready to play ball for him.

TMZ spoke to a handful of congressmen playing in Thursday night's Congressional Baseball Game, and they tell us despite natural safety concerns ... they're not letting it keep them off the field.

Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Doyle -- who's the team manager for the Democrats -- says the game will be more solemn, but both parties agreed the game had to be played. He says ... "We can't let terrorists and would-be assassins change the way we live our lives."

Two other Democratic Reps, Hakeem Jeffries from NY ... and Pete Aguilar from CA, tell us they have the utmost faith in law enforcement to keep them safe at Nationals Park, the stadium where game's being played. Aguilar added ... "We cannot be intimidated and our democracy is unbreakable."

We also spoke with several GOP Reps who were on the field during Wednesday's shooting, where James Hodgkinson opened fire. One of them, Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, said a silver lining is America finally getting to see the bipartisan friendships in Congress. Yes, they exist.

Alexandria, Virginia's own representative in Congress hopes the shooting that injured his colleague can be a uniting force.

We got Congressman Don Beyer -- who reps Virginia's 8th District, including Alexandria -- at Simpson Field Wednesday, where James Hodgkinson opened fire on the GOP's practice sesh ... injuring Rep. Steve Scalise, among others.

He tells our camera guy that this tragedy should get members from both sides of the aisle coming together -- for now, at least -- ahead of Thursday's congressional baseball game ... which is moving forward as scheduled.

Quick side note ... Simpson Field sits near T.C. Williams High School, which is the same school "Remember the Titans" is based on. Beyer's hoping it has the same unifying effect here.

James T. Hodgkinson had a violent history involving guns long before he opened fire on the congressional baseball practice.

According to police records ... Hodgkinson was busted in 2006 for allegedly punching his daughter's 20-year-old female friend and striking a male friend with the butt of a shotgun. Police say he also fired a shot that didn't hit anyone.

Hodgkinson was trying to get his daughter to leave the friend's house ... but when she refused, he got physical. Police say he grabbed his daughter by her hair, and pulled her to the floor.

The daughter broke free and tried to flee in a car, but he reached in and cut her seat belt with a pocketknife. That's when he punched the female friend in the face with a closed fist.

According to the docs ... the male friend then confronted Hodgkinson, who pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at the guy, and then struck him with the wooden stock of the gun.

James Hodgkinson's rifle shots at congressmen rang out in the neighborhood around the baseball field ... and it was captured by one witness and a nearby resident.

The first video is from a witness close to Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, and really captures the intensity and horror of the shooting which injured 5 people, including House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise. At one point a man can be seen lying on the baseball field.

The second video is audio recorded on the back porch of a woman in the neighborhood.

More than a dozen shots are heard as the woman and another neighbor tried to figure out what the hell was happening. The Hill first posted the raw video.

Hodgkinson was eventually taken out by responding officers ... and died later at a hospital.

President Donald Trump says the man who opened fire on a congressional baseball practice has died from injuries in the shootout with capitol police.

The shooter has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson -- a 66-year-old man from Illinois who has publicly called for the destruction of Trump and his supporters.

POTUS addressed the media moments ago and said Hodgkinson "has now died."

As we previously reported, Hodgkinson walked up to a baseball practice in Virginia early Wednesday morning and opened fire -- striking Rep. Steve Scalise and others.

Capitol police officers on the scene exchanged gunfire with Hodgkinson -- striking him. The officers were also shot. They survived and are being treated for their injuries.

Trump called the incident a "very, very brutal assault."

He described Scalise as a "good friend, he's a patriot and a fighter."

7:48 AM PT -- Law enforcement has identified the shooter as 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson of Illinois.

At least one congressman has been shot -- along with several other people -- after a gunman opened fire on a Congressional baseball team practice.

Police say the gunman fired an automatic rifle, and reportedly got off as many as 50 shots Wednesday morning as the team was gathering in Alexandria, VA. Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip, was shot in the hip, and was in stable condition before going into surgery.

In total, 5 people were hospitalized -- that number includes the shooter.

Witnesses say Sen. Jeff Flake was at bat when the shooting broke out.

Sen. Rand Paul -- who was at the scene -- says if not for heroic police stepping in and saving the day, it would have been a "massacre." He added, "Nobody would have survived without the Capitol Police."

Rep. Mo Brooks helped one victim who was shot in the leg by using his belt as a tourniquet.

Police say they have the suspect in custody.

President Trump tweeted about the incident, calling Scalise a "true friend and patriot."

Congressional Democrats had gathered at a different field to practice for tomorrow's charity game against Republicans ... and they huddled in prayer after hearing about the shooting.

Story developing ...

6:45 AM PT -- Telfair was released on $75,000 bond around 12:30am.

Telfair's bail bondsman, Ira Judelson, tells us Telfair lives in Florida and has a license for guns there, but not in New York.

Former NBA player Sebastian Telfair was arrested this weekend with a small arsenal on him that made it seem like he was ready for military combat.

32-year-old Telfair and an 18-year-old man, Jami Thomas, were busted by Brooklyn PD Sunday while in possession of 4 firearms -- 3 pistols and what appears to be a semi-automatic rifle. Cops say he was also carrying a TON of rounds for the guns, as well as marijuana. Cops also found a bullet-proof vest in their Ford pickup truck, which reportedly carried Florida plates.

Officers took a photo of the weapons ... it looks like Telfair and his guy were ramping up for something major with this kind of fire power.

The ex-point guard played on a number of teams between 2004 and 2013 -- from the Portland Trail Blazers, the Boston Celtics, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and finally to the Toronto Raptors. He ended up playing professionally in China after that.

Telfair was arrested in 2007 after a loaded gun was found in his car, and pled guilty to criminal possession of a weapon.

Story developing ...

London police have released photos of the fake suicide belts worn by the London Bridge terrorists ... which reportedly turned out to be water bottles wrapped in tape.

The belts were strapped to the 3 men as they mowed down pedestrians on the Bridge, then went to a nearby restaurant and stabbed numerous people.

All 3 were shot and killed.

London authorities say the fake devices looked authentic and were presumably used to hold people at bay as they executed their plot.

8 people were killed during the attack last weekend and at least 48 were injured. Among the injured ... 4 unarmed police officers.

Aaron Carter regrets suggesting he'll not only pack heat at the L.A. Gay Pride Parade this weekend, but he'd shoot anyone who came for his fans.

Aaron told TMZ Thursday he's ready to fight terrorists with his own brand of terror ... a gun, which he's more than willing to use.

But later Friday he moonwalked his statement back, saying emotions got the best of him.

Aaron will perform at the parade, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people. Security is super tight.

Singer August Alsina can't buy groceries without getting hounded by fans ... and that's why he allegedly flashed a gun to get them to finally back off.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... August was shopping at Food 4 Less around 9 PM Wednesday in the San Fernando Valley when 3 chicks and a guy hounded him to take pics with them.

We're told the singer told them he wasn't feeling well -- he's battling liver disease -- but they wouldn't budge. An employee saw it happening and called cops.

Sources say when August left the store, the group followed him. We're told August grabbed a gun from his car, slid it down his waistband and showed the butt of the gun as the group approached.

August was long gone by the time cops showed up, but law enforcement sources say cops determined the singer did NOT point the gun at the group or make any verbal threats.

Cops took down a brandishing firearm report but law enforcement sources say because the alleged crime is he-said, she said, law enforcement sources say the case will likely go nowhere.

We've reached out to August's camp, so far no word back.

Aaron Carter doesn't want fans worrying about terrorism at his shows -- like his L.A. Pride gig this weekend -- and has a warning for anyone thinking about targeting him: He's a big 2nd Amendment guy.

Aaron will hit the stage Saturday in L.A., and he's well aware of increased security concerns all large scale events in the wake of the bombing at Ariana Grande's concert. He got emotional talking about recent attacks, and then got defiant.

As Aaron put it ... "I live in America. I'm allowed to have guns." He wasn't specific about when and where he's packing, but his message was clear -- don't tread on me. Or my fans.

British police gunned down the London Bridge terrorists as they attacked an innocent bystander at Borough Market ... and the whole incident was captured by city surveillance cameras.

The new footage shows cops pulling up to the scene just as the terrorist were stabbing someone on the street. Within moments ... all 3 attackers were shot dead.

As we reported ... 8 people were killed and nearly 50 more injured in the London attack Saturday night.

New video has surfaced dramatically showing the scope and horror inside Pulse nightclub in Orlando, where a lone gunman slaughtered 49 people before he was shot.

The video was obtained by the Orlando Sentinel ... you see cops entering the club through a broken window and zeroing in on the bathroom, where shooter Omar Mateen was holding club patrons hostage.

The video is graphic ... hard to watch, but it paints a vivid picture of the havoc a single maniac can wreak.

8:50 AM PT -- The Secret Service says at no time during Moles' time in D.C. were any of the people they protect at risk. Obviously, that includes President Trump.

8:30 AM PT -- A rep for D.C. Metro PD says the department got word from Pennsylvania State Police about Moles heading to the area and possibly looking to check in to the Trump Hotel. PA cops got the man's name and vehicle description from a tipster, which was quickly communicated to D.C. officials, including the Secret Service.

A Trump International Hotel guest in Washington D.C. was busted early Wednesday morning when cops found 2 guns and 90 rounds of ammo in his car.

According to cops 43-year-old Bryan Moles left a gun in plain view inside his car. A second gun was found in his glove box. The weapons are a Glock and a semi-automatic Carbon 15 Bushmaster.

Police responded to the hotel -- just blocks from the White House -- after getting a tip that Moles had the weapons.

Three 6 Mafia co-founder DJ Paul threatened to drive by and shoot up people's homes in Memphis during a concert Saturday night... shocking even his own crew.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ ... DJ Paul was pissed that his sound kept cutting out during his performance at 901Fest. He was so angry, at one point he went into the crowd hunting for the sound guy.

You can see Paul brooding in anger on stage, when suddenly he blurts out the threat ... the audience was shocked. His own hype man, Computer, tried in vain to calm him down.