Special Agents David Bailey and Crystal Griner (United States Capitol Police) and officers Nicole Battaglia, Kevin Jobe, and Alexander Jensen (Alexandria, Virginia, Police Department) exhibited extraordinary valor on June 14, 2017, in confronting and neutralizing a heavily-armed assailant, and in so doing, likely prevented a massacre from taking place in Alexandria, Virginia.
On the morning of June 14, 2017, at approximately 0709 hours e.s.t., Special Agent Crystal Griner and Special Agent David Bailey were serving as dignitary protection division agents for the United States Capitol Police. Their assignment was to protect U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip Stephen J. Scalise. Congressman Scalise and approximately twenty other persons, including numerous members of Congress, were practicing for the annual congressional charity baseball game at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Virginia.
At that time, an assailant emerged from the parking lot area of the field adjacent to the third base line. The assailant, possessing a 7.62mm caliber SKS rifle and a 9mm handgun, opened fire upon the individuals on the field. In response to the gunshots, the special agents radioed for assistance and bravely engaged the assailant with their capitol police-issued weapons. During the ensuing gun battle, Special Agent Griner was shot in the lower leg with a rifle round but nevertheless was able to continue to return fire to try to stop the shooter as she maintained cover near her assigned vehicle.
At the same time, Special Agent Bailey also engaged the shooter by returning fire at the shooter from the area of the first base dugout. Special Agent Bailey was injured by shell fragments to his ankle during the engagement. Officer Nicole Battaglia, Officer Kevin Jobe, and Officer Alexander Jensen, all with the Alexandria Police Department, in three separate cruisers responded and joined the gun battle. Officer Battaglia departed from her cruiser without cover, advanced toward the firefight, and was pinned to the ground by a barrage of gunfire. As she was under fire, the other officers were able to move towards the shooter while engaging him and obtained a better angle of attack, which ended with the assailant being shot several times. He later died of his wounds.
The engagement of the assailant by these special agents and police officers prevented the assailant from continuing his movement and assault on unarmed citizens, including members of congress. The brave actions of these law enforcement officers drew the assailant’s fire and attention towards law enforcement and allowed the victims to seek cover. The victims all were cornered inside the field, which had only one avenue of escape. Despite being wounded, Special Agents Griner and Bailey heroically engaged the shooter until he was neutralized with the aid of the responding Alexandria police officers.
The United States Capitol Police vehicle that Special Agents Griner and Bailey were using for cover during the gun battle was riddled with bullets from the assailant’s weapons. During the attack, the assailant shot 4 individuals including Special Agent Griner, Congressman Scalise, Congressional Aide Zachary Barth, and lobbyist Matt Mika. Special Agent Bailey received shrapnel wounds and another congressman received an injury to his leg.
The brave and selfless acts of Special Agents Griner and Bailey and Officers Battaglia, Jobe, and Jensen, are credited with saving numerous lives due to their heroic engagement of the active shooter who was able to fire approximately fifty rifle rounds and ten handgun rounds during the 5-minute gun battle. The actions of these five law enforcement officers almost certainly prevented a massacre and are testament to their dedication to the community and profession they serve.
Learn about all of the Public Safety Medal of Valor recipients