On Saturday, July 13, an attempted assassination took place during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where former President Donald Trump was speaking. As Trump addressed the crowd, gunshots were heard, leading to a swift reaction from Secret Service agents who rushed to protect him. Trump was quickly escorted off the stage, with visible blood on his face.
Confirmed Facts
The FBI confirmed late Saturday night that the incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt on Trump. He later posted on Truth Social, revealing that a bullet had grazed his upper right ear.
The events, broadcast live on Fox News and CNN, showed the chaos as it unfolded. According to the Secret Service’s latest statement, at around 6:15 pm, a shooter fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the rally venue. The shooter was neutralized and is now deceased. Unfortunately, one spectator was killed, and two others were critically injured.
The Trump campaign released a statement assuring that the former president is fine and is receiving medical attention at a local facility. Trump himself expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and law enforcement for their rapid response and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
President Joe Biden also issued a statement, expressing relief that Trump is safe and condemning the violence. He called for national unity against such acts and temporarily pulled his campaign advertisements. Biden spoke with Trump on Saturday night, though details of their conversation remain private.
Update: Here’s What We Know So Far
Former US president Donald Trump was rushed off stage during a rally in Pennsylvania after a gunman fired multiple rounds from an “elevated position” a few hours ago.
If you’ve just joined us, here’s a quick recap on what we know about the shooting so far:
– Trump said a bullet pierced the “upper part” of his right ear, in a post on social media.
– One person was killed and two others injured. All three victims are adult males, according to law enforcement.
– The FBI has identified the suspected gunman, who was shot and killed by the Secret Service, as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
– At an earlier press conference, FBI field officer Kevin Rojek confirmed that the incident was being treated as an assassination attempt.
– Law enforcement officers were pressed on the response time to the gunman. State police said it’s “too early” to determine what happened as “everything unfolded very quickly.”
– Rojek praised the Secret Service on site and state and local partners, saying they reacted “immediately.”
– State police said they’re following up on reports that a witness saw the shooter on the roof.
Unanswered Questions
Several key details about the incident remain unclear:
– The shooter’s motive has not been officially disclosed.
– The identities of the injured or deceased spectators have not been released.
– Investigators have not identified the weapon used in the attack.
– The Secret Service has not explained how the shooter managed to get within range of the former president.
The FBI and Pennsylvania state police have assured the public that they are working diligently to uncover more information. They have yet to provide a timeline for when additional details will be made available.
As the investigation continues, the public remains eager for answers to understand the full scope of what transpired at the Butler rally.
