Authorities are probing what they believe was an attempt to assassinate Donald Trump after a gunman opened fire during a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
A man armed with a rifle targeted Trump, leading to a swift response from the Secret Service.
Anthony Gugliemi, the Secret Service spokesperson, stated on X that “the former president [was] safe” after agents shielded Trump amidst the chaos.
Gugliemi confirmed that Secret Service agents shot and killed the assailant, who had been firing from an elevated position outside the rally venue.
Tragically, one spectator was killed and two others critically injured.
The shooter, identified as a male, had no immediate motive disclosed by officials.
Trump, addressing the incident in a pair of statements, assured the public he was “fine” after a bullet grazed the upper part of his right ear.
He expressed gratitude towards the Secret Service and other law enforcement officers for their quick actions in a Truth Social post.
“Mostly importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed and also to the family of [those] badly injured,” said Trump, who was taken to a hospital for evaluation and discharged around 10:20 pm local time.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country.”
NBC News footage captured over a dozen shots, with some reportedly fired by agents protecting Trump, who was on stage at the time.
Commands like “Get down, get down, get down!” could be heard as agents shielded Trump and evacuated him from the scene.
Audio recordings captured agents announcing, “Shooter’s down. Shooter’s down.
Are we good to move? We’re clear, we’re clear.”
Despite his injuries, Trump insisted on retrieving his shoes and, amidst the ordeal, he rallied the crowd with cries of “USA! USA! USA!” before being escorted away.
Footage showed blood on Trump’s ear, and snipers were visible on a nearby roof.
Reuters confirmed snipers’ presence near the stage.
NBC News cited senior law enforcement officials expressing concern that the incident might have been a serious attempt on Trump’s life.
Local District Attorney Richard Goldinger voiced uncertainty on CNN about how the shooter accessed his position, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.
A Trump supporter interviewed by the BBC claimed he saw a man with a rifle on a rooftop near the rally site.
Despite alerting police, no immediate action was taken until shots were fired.
The Secret Service then neutralized the shooter, the supporter said.
An AR-style rifle was recovered at the scene, according to the Associated Press.
The AP also geolocated a video showing a body on a roof at AGR International, close to where Trump was speaking.
“The roof was less than 165 yards from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a decent marksman could reasonably hit a human-sized target,” the AP’s Scott Bauer wrote on X.
President Joe Biden commented on X, saying he was briefed on the shooting and relieved Trump was safe.
Biden also called for a collective denunciation of political violence in a televised address, stressing the importance of peaceful political processes.
Reactions poured in from various political figures.
House Speaker Mike Johnson promised a full investigation into the tragic events, while former President George W Bush expressed gratitude for Trump’s safety.
Prominent Democrats, including Hakeem Jeffries and Barack Obama, condemned the violence and offered prayers for Trump.
Steve Bannon, Trump’s adviser, had previously expressed fears of an assassination attempt on Trump.
In a June interview, Bannon warned that Trump’s portrayal as a modern-day Julius Caesar could inspire a would-be assassin, drawing parallels to historical figures like Abraham Lincoln.
The incident has sparked widespread concern and calls for increased security measures as Trump continues his campaign.
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