Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) expressed regret for suggesting that Democratic rhetoric about President Donald Trump had inspired a gunman to target Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice on Wednesday morning.

James Hodgkinson , the suspect who allegedly opened fire at the baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, was a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with a record of violent behavior.

Reacting to the shooting shortly after it occurred on Wednesday morning in an interview on Buffalo, New Yorks WBEN radio , Collins identified the finger-pointing, just the tone and the angst, and the anger directed at Donald Trump , his supporters as a contributing factor in the rampage.

I can only hope that the Democrats do tone down the rhetoric, Collins added.

Later in the day, however, Collins released a statement calling on all sides, rather than just Democrats, to use more careful language.

Its time for all of us, including myself, to tone down our rhetoric and recognize that we are all of one country and all proud Americans, he said.

On Thursday, Collins went further, admitting it had been a mistake to pin the blame on Democrats in the first place.

I do regret certainly what I said at 8:05 in the morning. Ive been careful to clarify it moving forward, Collins said on MSNBC.