At his event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night, former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear while speaking on stage. The incident is being looked into as a possible assassination attempt by a gunman who may have been hiding on a roof close to the rally venue.
At about 6:15 p.m. ET, Trump was halfway through his rally speech, facing the right and with his hands on his lectern, when there was an abrupt burst of gunfire.
As more gunshots could be heard, Trump grabbed his right ear and fell to the ground as Secret Service agents ordered him to stop. They then hurried to the stage to protect the former president.
There came a final wave of gunfire and deafening cries from the crowd while Trump stayed on the ground. The agents’ words, “Shooter’s down,” could be heard over the rally microphone around forty-five seconds after the former president was shot.
“Are we ready to go?” said one agent.
Another person questioned, “Are we clear?”
After being helped to his feet with his face and ear cut, Trump said, “We’re clear!” to a Secret Service agent.
Watch the video below:
When the agents were about to usher Trump off stage and into his adjacent SUV, he asked them to hold off. The rallygoers let out a huge roar when Trump raised his fist in the air and mouthed the word “fight” three times as he did so. The ex-president was then being led by many agents down the stairs and into his car as the crowd screamed “USA!”
According to the Secret Service, two rallygoers suffered serious injuries in the gunfire, and one rallygoer was killed. The FBI claims that all of the victims were men.
There are serious concerns regarding security and the way the former president was shot after the terrible incident that put his life in danger. Lawmakers have already demanded an inquiry into the Secret Service’s handling of Saturday’s protest. The shooting occurs just before Trump is scheduled to accept the Republican National Convention’s 2024 presidential nomination this coming week.
In remarks made on Saturday night from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, President Joe Biden denounced the massacre, calling it “sick.” The White House also confirmed that Biden had a phone conversation with President Trump.
Outside the rally venue, the shooter fired several times.
The gunman was positioned on a building rooftop immediately outside the location where Trump was holding his rally, which is to the right of the event stage, according to a law enforcement source and a police officer on the site, who spoke with CNN. The building was heavily guarded by law enforcement.
Law enforcement officers are looking into the possibility of an assassination attempt in relation to the incident.
“Multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” according to the Secret Service, were fired by the gunman. Secret Service officials shot and killed the gunman, the organization claimed in a statement.
The alleged Trump shooter was seen in a video that was shared on social media lying down on a building’s top and appeared inert.
At a news conference held hours after the shooting, FBI special agent in charge Kevin Rojek stated that the agency is “close” to identifying the gunman in what they are referring to as an attempt on Trump’s life.
According to Rojek, the identification of the gunman is almost confirmed, although the name has not yet been made public. According to authorities, there isn’t a threat from anywhere else.
The reason behind the shooter’s actions is yet unknown, according to Rojek.
Trump described the shooting in a post on Truth Social on Saturday night, praising the actions of the law enforcement and Secret Service.
“My right ear’s top portion was perforated by a bullet that I was shot. As soon as I heard bullets, felt the bullet ripping through my skin, and heard a whizzing sound, I knew something was wrong. I became aware of what was going on when there was a lot of blood. BLESSED BE AMERICA! Trump penned.
‘It was a bloody scene’
At Trump’s rally, Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Dave McCormick, Rep. Mike Kelly, and Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican, were seated in the first row. The congressman stated to CNN that the shot and killed spectator was “no more than 20 feet behind” them.
“It was a bloody scene, to be sure, and everyone started screaming and calling for a medic,” Meuser said.
Richard Goldinger, the district attorney for Butler County, stated that his chief detective had informed him that the gunman was on a structure next to the property.
“A rifle would have been necessary,” he stated. “Several hundred yards was it.”
Speaking to CNN after the rally on Saturday, Rico Elmore, a former legislative candidate from Pennsylvania, described jumping over the barrier and placing his hand on the head of a wounded attendee. He had blood all over his white shirt and was leaving the rally stage.
Elmore stated, “All we know is that after shots were fired, I leaped over the barrier and put my hand on the guy’s heavily bleeding head.” He described the attendee as “just a stranger” and claimed not to know them.
Elmore claimed he was unharmed despite appearing rattled up. He claims he did not witness what happened to Trump and that he saw only one guest hit.
Texas Republican Representative Ronny Jackson said to Fox News that his nephew suffered injuries in the shooting. According to Jackson, his nephew “had a bullet graze his neck, cut his neck, and he was bleeding.
“During the rally, Jackson’s nephew was positioned in “the friends and family pen, which is to the president’s right, down a little bit lower.
“The lawmaker from Texas described it as a “horrific, horrific experience.”
Biden: ‘It’s sick’
In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden received information about the shooting. The group briefing the president included Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.
Following the shooting on Saturday night, Biden and Trump had a phone conversation, as stated by the White House. He also had conversations with Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Biden declared, “This kind of violence has no place in America—it’s sick, it’s sick,” before leaving for the White House late on Saturday night. It’s among the reasons this nation has to be brought together. This is not something we can tolerate continuing. This is not how we can be. This cannot be tolerated.
Following the shooting on Saturday, lawmakers from all parties swiftly expressed their shock and denounced the political violence. The former president received well wishes from leaders all throughout the world.
“Law enforcement has briefed me, and I’m keeping an eye on the developments.” House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement saying, “This horrible act of political violence at a peaceful campaign rally has no place in this country and should be unanimously and forcefully condemned.”
“I am pleased that former President Trump is safe and appalled by what transpired at the Trump event in Pennsylvania. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer declared, “Political violence has no place in our country.”
Former Trump campaign advisor David Urban told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he had a conversation with Pennsylvania Republican Senate contender McCormick, who was seated in the rally’s first row. Following Trump’s instruction to McCormick to “come up here onstage,” according to Urban, he heard a few “pops” that resembled “firecrackers.
“At that point, McCormick collapsed to the ground. When he stood up, he told Urban that Secret Service agents were “around everybody and they were scattering.”
McCormick stated on X that he and his spouse, Dina Powell, a former official in the Trump administration, “are praying for President Trump and all who were injured today in Butler, Pennsylvania.”
More reporting has been added to this story.
Source: CNN
