2 months ago
100
Donald Trump has been injured in an assassination attempt when a gunman, now identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. From how many shots were fired to which weapon was used, here’s what has been revealed so far read more
 "What we know and don’t know of the shooting")
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump is assisted by Secret Service personnel after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania. Reuters
“I heard several gunshots. The man beside me suffered a gunshot to the head, was instantly killed (and) fell to the bottom of the bleachers. Another woman looked like she got hit in the forearm or hand.”
Joseph, a man who was attending Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, recounted just shortly after a suspected would-be assassin unleashed terror on the meeting. The gunman and a bystander have been killed and two spectators have been critically injured.
The former US president and Republican candidate raised a defiant fist to the crowd as he was bundled away to safety and said afterward, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”
This attack, now being termed as an ‘assassination attempt’ is the most serious attempt to assassinate a US president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
As details continue to pour in, here’s what we know so far.
What happened in Butler?
Donald Trump was in Butler for a campaign rally on Saturday afternoon, days before he becomes the official Republican nominee. Pennsylvania is one of the most important states in the presidential race and Trump has had at least two rallies in the state this year so far.
The former president, around six minutes into his address, was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when shots, at least five, rang out at the location.
Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Meanwhile, agents created a shield around him. When the 78-year-old stood, his face bloodied, he pumped his fist to cheering supporters. Trump and his motorcade left the scene and he was checked into a medical facility.
Catch all live updates from the Trump assassination attempt HERE
Has Trump been injured?
After being whisked away from the scene of the shooting, Trump posted on his own social media network, Truth Social that a bullet “pierced the upper part of my right ear.”
“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump wrote. “Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.”
Trump thanked law enforcement in his online statement and extended condolences to the families of the people killed and injured.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country,” he wrote.
Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, also released a statement on Saturday evening that Trump was fine and being looked at a medical facility.
Have others been injured?
While a bullet pierced Trump’s ears, the shooting also killed another bystander and critically injured two others.
A doctor attending the event told NBC News that he saw a man suffer a gunshot wound to the head and helped carry him from the site of the rally.
Hours after the shooting, Representative Ronny Jackson, of Texas, said in an interview on Fox News that his nephew was grazed on his neck by a bullet at the rally.
People remained at the scene for 10 to 15 minutes after Trump was taken away, after which they were told it was an active crime scene and all attendees were escorted out.
Eyewitnesses present at the scene described the chaos that unfolded as shots rang out. Erin told NBC News, “No one was concerned about us. We were only concerned about him.”
She added that she saw someone else covered in blood, who appeared to be next to a person who was “bleeding profusely” — seemingly struck by one of the gunman’s bullets.
Journalists at the scene saw smoke and heard what they initially thought were fireworks before everyone ducked and law enforcement encircled Trump. Piercing screams from the crowd reverberated across the area.
Who’s the shooter?
The US Secret Service, who is in charge of the security for former US presidents, neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. The FBI has said in a press conference that it is “close” to identifying the shooter. However, his motives are yet to be ascertained.
Authorities said the suspect had no identification on him, which is slowing down the process. Rojek said they are doing biometric confirmation as well as running the shooter’s DNA and looking at photographs.
However, the FBI has now released that the man who attempted to kill Donald Trump is 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
The shooter had fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the rally venue, a farm show. Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Lt Col George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police added that they believed that there was no “other existing threat out there”. However, he added: “We have one shooter tentatively identified, but we’re not stopping there. We’re following up on a lot of information. It will be sometime before we can conclusively answer that question,” he was quoted as telling CNN when asked if this was a lone wolf attack.
Who will lead the investigation?
The FBI is set to lead the investigation and said it’s working with the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle briefed President Joe Biden and are working with law enforcement partners to respond to and investigate the shooting, Mayorkas said on X.
“We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”
Republican US House Speaker Mike Johnson also said the House will conduct a full investigation of the attack on Trump’s campaign rally. “The American people deserve to know the truth,” Johnson said. “We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP.”
CNN citing sources reports that Trump’s Secret Service protection was strengthened recently. Trump was first granted Secret Service protection in November 2015, and expressed relief at the time.
How has the world reacted to the shooting?
Irrespective of party affiliations, American leaders have expressed gratitude that Trump wasn’t hurt in the shooting. US President Joe Biden spoke with Trump after the shooting. Biden said earlier he was grateful Trump was safe. He condemned the shooting and called for the country to unite, saying: “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence.”
He added, “It’s sick. … We cannot condone this.” The Biden presidential campaign has temporarily pulled advertising in the wake of the shooting.
Former US President Barack Obama joined those condemning political violence writing on X: “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don’t yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his concern, saying: “Deeply concerned by the attack on my friend, former President Donald Trump. Strongly condemn the incident. Violence has no place in politics and democracies. Wish him speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, those injured and the American people.”
Other world leaders such as European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed their concern and said that such an incident had no place in politics.
Several of Trump’s fellow party members sent well wishes and prayers. Trump’s possible running mates — North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Ohio Senator JD Vance — also sent statements.
Vance and some other Republicans also assigned blame to the Biden campaign’s anti-Trump rhetoric. “Today is not just some isolated incident,” Vance wrote on X. “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
What next?
After being shot, Donald Trump has landed in New Jersey. Moreover, the Republican National Committee will proceed with its convention in Milwaukee on Monday after an apparent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally on Saturday.
“President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States,” Trump’s campaign and the RNC said in a statement. “As our party’s nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to Make America Great Again.”
CNN said that the shooting by definition is an attack on democracy and the right of each American to choose their leaders.
With inputs from agencies
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
English (US) ·