Rep. Tom Rooney told CNBC he's "pretty emotional" about Wednesday morning's shooting at a congressional baseball practice because he left just before the gunfire erupted.
The Florida Republican said on "Squawk on the Street" that he normally would have stayed until the end of practice in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, but had to leave early to take his kid to school.
"I can't believe I left four minutes before this happened," Rooney said. He said he didn't see anything suspicious. Rooney said he plays first base, right next to second baseman House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise who was shot but was in stable condition.
The Wednesday morning practice was the last before a charity baseball event scheduled for Thursday.
Mostly House representatives and some senators, Republicans versus Democrats, play each other.
More coverage of the shooting
- GOP Rep. Steve Scalise, others shot at congressional baseball practice in Virginia
- Rep. Costello, who missed a ride to practice, says he would have been 'in the line of fire'
- By the second gunshot, 'we knew it was something real,' Rep. Jack Bergman says
- Rep. Wenstrup: I was in batting cages when the gunman started shooting and everyone hit the ground
- Rep. Duncan: I think I may have spoken to the gunman before he started shooting