This Capitol Police officer was shot in the leg — and he still reportedly ran after the shooter and took him down

Crowds held back by police tape at scene of shooting. — (Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

The officer who took down the congressional baseball practice shooter was reportedly nearly taken down himself.

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who watched the events unfold, said that it was a member of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise's (R-La.) security detail who helped put the shooter in custody. That Capitol Police officer, though, had reportedly already been shot in the leg when he was in pursuit of the gunman.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told reporters that the only reason Capitol Police were at the game in the first place was because Scalise, a member of House leadership, was in attendance. If they hadn't been there, "it would have been a massacre," Paul said.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.