Former President Donald J. Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Penn., where chaos erupted as shots rang out, killing one spectator and injuring several others, including Trump.
“Donna and I thank God that former President Trump is safe and unharmed after being shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania,” Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo said. “We are waiting for more information from the Secret Service. In the meantime, we are praying for calm and civility around the country.”
The incident unfolded during Trump’s speech, where he was abruptly interrupted by gunfire. Witnesses reported hearing two bursts of shots, prompting a swift response from security personnel who rushed Trump offstage. Video footage showed the suspected shooter lying motionless on a nearby rooftop shortly after the incident.
Trump, visibly shaken and bleeding from around his ear, was quickly transported to a hospital. In a social media post following the incident, he disclosed that a bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear.
President Joe Biden condemned the violence in a televised statement, describing it as “sickening.” He later reached out to Trump to express his concern and solidarity.
Law enforcement officials recovered an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle from the scene, believed to have been used by the assailant.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack.
Leaders, including Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed shock and solidarity with Mr. Trump. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation of political violence across party lines in the United States.
Despite the harrowing events, the Republican National Convention, where Trump is to be formally nominated, will proceed as scheduled in Milwaukee starting Monday.
The young man who attempted to assassinate Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania is Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, a suburb south of Pittsburgh. According to reports, Crooks lived in a relatively affluent neighborhood, described as firmly middle-class by local officials.
Dan Grzybek, who represents the area on the county council, recalled meeting Crooks’s parents briefly and described them as pleasant and open-minded. He noted that their family political affiliations were varied, with Crooks registered as a Republican, his mother as a Democrat, and his father as a Libertarian—a reflection of the diverse political landscape in Bethel Park.
Crooks, who graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, was not known to have a criminal history and was fatally shot by Secret Service agents after firing multiple shots toward the stage where Trump was speaking. An AR-15-type semiautomatic rifle was recovered near his body, indicating his weapon of choice during the attack.
The motive behind Crooks’s actions remains unclear, and the FBI is actively investigating, conducting interviews with friends and family, and scouring online activities for potential clues. Law enforcement found Bomb-making materials inside the vehicle and home of the man suspected of shooting Trump.
The shooter’s father, Matthew Crooks, declined to provide details about his son until he talked to law enforcement. His son reportedly used his gun to carry out the attack. The community of Bethel Park has been stunned by the incident, with residents expressing disbelief that such violence could originate from their neighborhood.
The shooting, which resulted in the death of one spectator and critical injuries to two others, has sparked widespread condemnation and raised questions about security protocols at political events. Leaders from both parties have denounced the attack, emphasizing the need for unity and civility in political discourse.
As investigations continue, federal authorities expect to provide further updates on their findings and the circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination of a former U.S. president.
Sid Miller, the commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, vividly described the chaotic scene when gunfire erupted. Miller recounted the panic and confusion that swept through the crowd.
He observed people bleeding and others screaming while security personnel and law enforcement officers moved swiftly to secure the area and ensure safety. Despite the tense atmosphere, many rallied in solidarity, chanting “U.S.A.!” as Trump left the stage.
The incident drew immediate comparisons to past acts of political violence in U.S. history, such as the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and attempts on the lives of other presidents. The swift response from law enforcement, including the engagement of snipers positioned nearby, underscored the heightened security measures at such events.
Trump, visibly shaken, stood up and acknowledged the crowd after the shooting subsided, raising his fist as a gesture of resilience amidst the turmoil. The rally, initially a show of enthusiastic support, quickly turned into a scene of trauma and disbelief, leaving attendees shaken but thankful that the outcome was not more tragic.
As investigations into the motive and circumstances behind the shooting continue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks and tensions inherent in American political discourse.
Following the incident, Trump confirmed on Truth Social that a bullet pierced his right ear. Despite this, law enforcement officers and safely ushered him into an SUV.
Eyewitnesses like Tiona Evans, who attended the rally as a birthday gift to herself, expressed profound shock and emotional distress over the day’s events. Attendees exchanged accounts of what they had witnessed amidst rumors and confusion in the aftermath.
Joseph, who was just yards away, describes what happened, “I heard several gunshots. The man beside me suffered a gunshot wound to the head, was instantly killed, fell to the bottom of the bleachers. Another woman looked like she got hit in the forearm or hand.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro identified the deceased victim as Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, Penn. He was a former volunteer fire chief for Buffalo Township.
Pennsylvania State Police later identified David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Penn., and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Penn., as the men shot while at the Trump rally. They said the two are in stable condition.
In a single frame of a photograph by veteran photographer Doug Mills, a bullet appears to be streaking near Trump’s head. Former FBI special agent Michael Harrigan noted the technical rarity of capturing such an image, suggesting the trajectory of a high-speed projectile in flight.
Despite the chaos, Trump’s resilience was evident as he arrived in New Jersey, leaving his plane unaided. His injured ear, out of view of the cameras, stood as a stark reminder of the danger faced and the broader implications of political violence in America.
Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, has vowed to seek answers from the Secret Service regarding the incident.
“There are many questions and Americans demand answers. I have already contacted the Secret Service for a briefing and am also calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing,” said Comer.
The shooting, which occurred while Trump addressed supporters at the rally, left him with a bullet grazing his right ear, as depicted in photos showing blood on his ear and face as Secret Service agents swiftly evacuated him from the stage.
According to the Secret Service, the shooter fired from an elevated position outside the venue. “U.S. Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased,” announced Anthony Guglielmi, the agency’s chief spokesperson. Tragically, one rally attendee died after being struck in the head, and two others were critically injured.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whose department oversees the Secret Service, personally briefed President Biden about the shooting. “We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security,” Mayorkas assured.
Criticism has arisen over proposed legislation to remove Secret Service protection from Trump. Allies of the former President have questioned the timing and motives behind such legislative efforts, particularly in light of the recent shooting.
“Leading Democrats introduced legislation intended to strip President Trump of Secret Service protection,” Alex Pfeiffer, spokesman for the Make America Great Again Inc. super PAC, wrote on X. “They did that at the same time as Joe Biden called President Trump a ’dictator,’ and Nancy Pelosi said President Trump ’must be stopped.’”
Last April, key Democrats revealed new legislation that would strip Trump of his Secret Service agents if he was convicted of a felony and sent to prison.
Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, said the legislation was to clarify who had custody of Trump in the event he went to prison.
“My bill would not have affected the Secret Service’s presence during this tragic event,” he said. “It aims to clarify lines of authority when a protectee is sentenced to prison and is in the custody of another law enforcement agency. That does not apply to the former President.”
A Manhattan jury in May convicted Trump on 34 counts of allegedly falsifying business records. His sentencing is on Sept. 18.
Thompson said he was concerned that a Secret Service protective detail could lead to accommodations for a former president in prison.
“It is regrettable that it has come to this, but this previously unthought-of scenario could become our reality,” the Mississippi lawmaker said. “Therefore, it is necessary for us to be prepared and update the law so the American people can be assured that protective status does not translate into special treatment — and that those who are sentenced to prison will indeed serve the time required of them.”
America First Legal, an outfit made up of former senior officials from the Trump administration, said Saturday it had filed an open-records request to determine if the Homeland Security Department rebuffed requests for enhanced Secret Service protection for Trump. And allies of Trump are questioning why his opponents want to put his life in more danger by writing legislation that would remove his Secret Service protection.
Meanwhile, controversy surrounds the Biden administration’s decision, through the DHS, to deny Secret Service protection to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign, a move critics say goes towards the inconsistencies in security policy, if not the targeting of political rivals.
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