By RFD Radio/WFMB

MURPHSYBORO – Perhaps no other Congressman is more familiar with the suspected shooter in Wednesday’s incident at the GOP Congressional baseball practice in northern Virginia than the man who represents the Belleville area.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro said all indications showed James Hodgkinson, 66, had politics in mind before opening fire on members of Congress.

“Someone walked up to them in the parking lot and said ‘Is this Republicans or Democrats?’ They thought was really strange,” Bost said. “And then they went from there to their car and then five minutes later and the shooter opened up. Whether that was shooter that talked to them, they are still trying to do the investigation on that.”

Hodgkinson, who owned a home inspection business, later died.

Bost said he is concerned about the tone in Washington.

“We are Republicans, we are Democrats, we have different ideas, we have different beliefs, but we are all trying to work for the betterment,” Bost said. “Unfortunately, we’ve got to where there’s a lot of anger out here.”

Bost said his office has received 10 calls from Hodgkinson in the past year, but said none of the contact from the suspect led him to believe he was dangerous or threatening.