White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki throws the first pitch at Nationals Stadium one day after terrified fans ran for cover when shooting in car park outside saw three people injured
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki threw out the first pitch at Nationals Park on Sunday, just one day after a shooting in the car park outside which left three people injured, halted play and sent fans fleeing for cover.
Video posted to Twitter by Deputy Press Secretary Chris Meagher, reveals a vast amount of empty seats, in what would otherwise be a packed stadium filled with cheering fans.
The Washington Nationals announced Friday afternoon that Psaki would throw out the first pitch prior to a game between the Nats and the San Diego Padres.
Merely one day after a shooting halted a game and left three people injured at Nationals Park, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stepped up to the plate and throw out the first pitch Sunday
The Washington Nationals announced Friday afternoon that Psaki would throw out the first pitch prior to a game between the Nats and the San Diego Padres
Psaki high-fives Nationals pitcher Kyle Finnegan after throwing the ball across home plate
The announcement came ahead of the DC team's 'William & Mary Day' honoring the press secretary's Virginia alma mater.
'On Sunday, July 18 against the San Diego Padres, the Nationals will host William & Mary Day,' the team said in a press release. 'Ceremonial First Pitch will be thrown by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, a graduate of William & Mary.
While considered an honor for any Washingtonian, throwing an opening pitch is often a honor best reserved for presidents and senior officials and one press secretaries rarely experience.
President Joe Biden, 78, has yet to throw an opening pitch while in office.
Last year, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, was selected to throw the opening pitch for Major League Baseball's 2020 season opener, but fumbled the ball into the ground.
The announcement came ahead of the DC team's 'William & Mary Day' honoring the press secretary's Virginia alma mater.
Last year, Dr. Anthony Fauci, (pictured) the nation's leading infectious disease expert, was selected to throw the opening pitch for Major League Baseball's 2020 season opener, but fumbled the ball into the ground
When the stadium was evacuated, heavily armed law enforcement officers stayed behind
Fans jump into a camera well after hearing gunfire from outside the stadium, during a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington
There was a heavy police presence in the area around the stadium on Saturday night
The Nationals were in the sixth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, when several gunshots rang out in rapid succession, sparking fears of a mass shooting in the stadium.
Fans poured out onto the field to find cover and flipped tables in a bar to hide behind while players frantically searched for family members in the stands.
'It was just a chaotic scene,' umpire crew chief Mark Carlson told The Associated Press. 'We heard what sounded like rapid gunfire. We didn’t know where it was coming from.'
In the shooting that ended up being outside the stadium as gunmen in two cars exchanged fire.
One of the victims - a woman - was an innocent bystander. She was caught in the crossfire when the gunmen opened fire at each other, Ashan Benedict, the Metropolitan Police Department’s executive assistant police chief, said during a Saturday night press conference.
The victim's injuries are not considered life threatening, Benedict said.
The other two people who were shot were in the same car and walked into area hospitals, where they're being questioned by police. DC police are also looking for the second car.
A $10,000 reward was offered for information about Saturday's shooting outside Nationals Park where three people were shot just outside the stadium's third base gate, when gunmen in two cars exchanged fire.
On Sunday police released photos of one of the cars involved, in the hope of tracking down the suspects.
On Sunday police released photos of one of the cars involved in the shooting in the hope of tracking down the suspects. Police said the vehicle had a temporary Virginia tag on it.
The driver of the car sped off after the 9:30pm shooting.
'The suspect vehicle in this case is described as a gray Toyota Corolla with a missing hubcap on the rear driver's side wheel and dark tinted windows,' the Metropolitan Police Department said in a press release Sunday.
'The vehicle is believed to be displaying a Virginia temporary tag.
'The vehicle was captured by a nearby surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos.'
The police union, however, heaped blame on the 'elected officials' who they said allowed DC to become lawless.
'Welcome to Washington, D.C. Where violent crime permeates everything,' they tweeted on Sunday morning.
'It is a tragedy that elected officials won't let us do our jobs.'
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