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Former President Donald Trump being rushed off stage by Secret Service agents after the shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
(The Post News)- An apparent assassination attempt was made on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler Farm Show grounds, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13.
The rally, which was part of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, was abruptly interrupted by gunfire just minutes after Trump took the stage, leaving the former president with a wound to his right ear, one person dead and two others critically injured.
The rally, held at a packed outdoor venue, was part of Trump’s ongoing campaign efforts as he seeks the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.
The event drew thousands of supporters, eager to hear the former president speak. However, the atmosphere of enthusiasm quickly turned to chaos when shots rang out from a nearby building.
The sound of gunfire sent waves of panic through the audience.
The former president clutched his ear as Secret Service agents dashed toward him, shouting for him to get down.
Trump dropped to the ground, and the crowd followed suit, dropping to the grass in silence, punctuated only by occasional screams.
Moments later, Trump stood up, blood trickling from his ear. The Secret Service agents surrounded him, covering his body with their own.
Despite the chaos, Trump pumped his fist to the crowd, who responded with cheers.
He seemed to mouth the word “fight” before agents hustled him off the stage and into a waiting black SUV.
The incident resulted in the death of a 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore attendee.
Two other attendees, David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, were critically injured and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Trump’s campaign expressed condolences to the victims and their families, with Trump himself calling for unity and resilience in the face of such violence.
The FBI has identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
Crooks, who was reportedly a registered Republican, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after he opened fire from an elevated position with an AR-style rifle outside the rally venue.
The motive behind the attack is still under investigation.
According to eyewitnesses, including Greg, who spoke to the BBC, a man was seen crawling up the roof of a nearby building with a rifle.
“We noticed the guy crawling up the roof of the building beside us, 50 feet away from us,” Greg said.
“He had a rifle, we could clearly see him with a rifle.”
President Joe Biden was one of the first to respond, calling the incident “sick” and emphasising that there is no place for such violence in America.
He stated, “We cannot allow this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this”.
Biden also praised the swift actions of the Secret Service and law enforcement, noting that their bravery saved lives.
In a statement issued shortly after the attack, Trump’s campaign confirmed that the former president was “fine” and being checked at a local medical facility.
Trump later posted on Truth Social, describing the incident and thanking the Secret Service for their swift action.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” he wrote.
The Secret Service and local law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the incident.
The FBI is also involved, with officials reviewing security protocols for future rallies.
The attack has raised serious questions about the security measures in place at such events, especially given the high-profile nature of Trump’s campaign.
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