Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as gunfire erupted, leaving Trump injured and adding uncertainty to the ongoing presidential campaign.
Short Summary:
- Attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Butler, PA rally.
- Gunman identified and neutralized by Secret Service.
- Spectator killed and two others critically injured.
In a stunning turn of events on Saturday evening, former President Donald Trump was the target of an attempted assassination during his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The FBI has confirmed that the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired multiple shots from a rooftop outside the rally venue. The attack left Trump with a bullet wound to his ear, one spectator dead, and two others critically injured.
Immediately following the shots, Secret Service agents swarmed Trump, pulling him to safety and into his motorcade. Trump, who was visibly bleeding from his right ear, was swiftly transported to a local hospital for treatment and later released. “I will never surrender,” Trump said in a statement released by his campaign team late Saturday.
According to the Secret Service, the gunman, Crooks, was on top of a shed located 200-300 feet away from the rally site, which allowed him to take an elevated position. Crooks was neutralized by Secret Service agents shortly after he began firing. “During Former President Trump’s campaign rally, a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” confirmed Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi.
“This evening we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump,” said Kevin Rojek, the FBI special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office. “The FBI is leading the investigation with help from the Secret Service and state and local agencies.”
The shooting caused chaos among the crowd, with attendees scrambling for cover. Madison Brooks, an eyewitness, described the scene: “I was about five feet away from him… I hear these four shots and everybody is screaming ‘drop,’ and you can see the blood like splatter on his face.”
CBS campaign reporter Jake Rosen interviewed an emergency physician who had blood on his shirt from performing CPR on one of the victims. “I thought it was firecrackers to begin with,” he said. “I said, I’m an emergency department physician. Let me help you. The guy had a head shot. There’s lots of blood and brain matter.”
The FBI identified Crooks as being a registered Republican and a recent graduate of Bethel Park High School. However, motives behind his decision to carry out the assassination attempt remain unclear. Authorities are investigating several leads, including reports of suspicious packages found near Crooks’ firing position. “We’re tracking down all leads and doing all the necessary interviews,” Rojek stated.
The incident elicited immediate reactions from national political figures. President Joe Biden condemned the attack saying, “There is no place for this kind of violence in America. It’s sick. It’s sick.” The White House later confirmed that Biden spoke with Trump by phone, though details of their conversation remain private.
“I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally,” Biden said in a statement, emphasizing the need for unity and condemning political violence.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that Congress will hold a thorough investigation into the incident. “The American people deserve to know the truth,” Johnson stated. Furthermore, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer issued a letter inviting Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to testify at a hearing.
Reactions continued to pour in from various political figures. Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned the attack. Harris noted, “Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act.” Pelosi, whose own family has been a victim of political violence, said, “Political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe.”
On social media, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., shared a photo of his father and wrote, “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.” Meanwhile, security measures have been heightened at locations associated with Trump, including Trump Tower in Manhattan. “Security is a top DHS priority,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who emphasized the necessity of maintaining the security of presidential candidates.
The shooting prompted an emergency meeting among federal and local law enforcement officials to review security protocols for upcoming political events, including the Republican National Convention. Former Secret Service agent Joe Funk highlighted that the focus would be on understanding how such a breach in security occurred in the first place.
“Most of the work that Secret Service is going to do is going to be pre-incident, ‘how did this guy get in… who is he? What was his motive? Is he connected with any other individuals?,” Funk explained.
The entire situation has sparked conversations about the safety and security of political figures in the current volatile climate. Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the attack as “an assault on our democracy” and vowed to utilize all available resources to aid the investigation.
With this shocking attempt on his life, former President Trump’s future campaign events are expected to undergo significant scrutiny and security enhancement. Whether the Republican Convention will proceed as scheduled remains to be seen.
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Despite the violence that marred his rally, Trump returned to his residence in New Jersey, signaling resilience and determination to continue his campaign. “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” Trump remarked, reflecting the sentiments of many who remain in shock over the incident.
The unfolding investigation will likely yield more details in the coming days, as federal agencies work to piece together the circumstances and motives behind this audacious assassination attempt.
