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Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulSenators wrestle with transparency in healthcare debate ObamaCare repeal and the Senate: Where it stands Rand Paul recounts shooting: 'Everyone was diving for the dirt' MORE (R-Ky.) in an interview aired Sunday gave a harrowing account of last week's shooting at a congressional GOP baseball practice.

Im just getting ready to go in and I hear one loud shot, Paul recalled during aninterviewwith radio host John Catsimatidis that aired Sunday on AM 970 in New York.

The GOP senator said those on the field initially did not think much of the bang, and were about to continue playing when the shooter opened fire.

A barrage of bullets came. Five, 10, 10 to 20. Overall probably 50, 60 shots were fired. Everyone was diving for the dirt. Everyone was diving for cover, he said.

Where I was located, the shooter was on the third base side behind the dugout. And as the shots came toward where I was standing, I could see them hitting the dirt in the warning track of the right field corner because he was shooting at two staff members that had run that direction, he said.

Paul, who was able to hide behind an oak tree and run, said credit is due to the two Capitol Police officers who were there to protect House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), who was critically wounded after being shot in the hip.

In the end, I would say that all of our lives were saved by the Capitol Hill police, Paul said. They saved a lot of lives by being there."

The FBI was investigating social media postings and potential motives for the gunman, identified as James Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old Illinois man who authorities said had been in the Alexandria, Va., area since March.

Hodgkinson, a former volunteer for Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersSenators wrestle with transparency in healthcare debate Law enforcement not in touch with Sanders on Scalise shooters work for campaign Sanders implies support for Senate blockade over healthcare MORE's (I-Vt.) presidential campaign, appeared on social media to be a staunch critic of President Trump and the GOP. Hodgkinson died Wednesday after being shot during the attack.

The FBI reportedly obtained a list from his pocket Wednesday that included the names of several GOP lawmakers, though none of those reportedly on the list were hurt in the early-morning shooting.

Scalise was in critical condition Friday following multiple surgeries. Another critically injured person, lobbyist Matt Mika, was in the ICU on Saturday but had shown signs of improvement, according to a statement from his family.

A congressional aide and two Capitol Police officers were also wounded in the shooting.

"I think we are going to have to do something differently, particularly when we have large groups of us, Paul said in the interview Sunday, discussing security changes for members of Congress after the shooting.

Individually, I think people can be angry at us, but it is even easier for them to combine all of their hatred and anger towards a group of us. And, I think, that is what set this guy off, he said.

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Rand Paul recounts shooting: 'Everyone was diving for the dirt' - The Hill (blog)