The world reacted with shock on Saturday night as the former President, and contender to be the next President, Donald Trump was shot during a political rally.
The violent attack, which drew swift bipartisan condemnation, marked the latest unpredictable turn in a chaotic Presidential election marked by increasing tensions and ugly rhetoric. Keep reading to discover all the essential facts we have so far – including the killer’s identity and the response from Biden and Trump themselves.
Trump Shot in Ear
After the sound of a gunshot rang out, Trump could be seen clutching his ear before quickly ducking to the ground.
After Trump ducked to the ground, the crowd went up in screams and Secret Service agents leaped to cover him – risking their own safety to ensure his.
Spectator Killed, More Injured
At the rally, one person in the crowd was killed while at least two more people were injured.
Following the shooting, the rally is now being treated as an active crime scene – with the FBI taking over inquiries relating to the assassination attempt.
Defiant Response From Former President
Trump was speaking in Butler, Pennsylvania – a key swing state in the 2024 election – when gunshots were heard in the crowd at 6.13 PM.
After the Secret Service confirmed the shooter was “down”, Trump stood up with blood on his face and declared “fight, fight” to an applauding crowd.
Trump is “Fine”
Following the violent attack, Trump’s campaign and the Secret Service confirmed that the former President was “fine” and being checked at a medical facility.
Shortly after, Trump posted a statement on his social media app Truth Social, saying he was hit by a “bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”
A Quick Response
After the shooting, Trump was quickly escorted off stage while he gestured defiantly to the crowds as he was put into his vehicle.
The district attorney of Butler County confirmed that the shooter was dead, as was one rally attendee. The Secret Service said two people were critically injured.
President Biden Condemns Attack
Following the shooting, Joe Biden – the current elected US President and Trump’s November opponent – struck a conciliatory tone and condemned the attack.
Joe Biden, said “everybody must condemn political violence” in a speech, and the White House later said the two men had spoken on the phone.
An Attempted Assassination
Biden, when asked if he considered the attack an assassination attempt, said he had an opinion on the matter but would stay quiet while he waited for more information.
In the following hours, it was revealed that the shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination, and outlets like the New York Times reported on it as an assassination attempt.
Who Was The Shooter?
The FBI named 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the shooter – a registered Republican who lived in the area.
As well as being a registered Republican, Crooks had previously donated a small amount of money to a liberal group.
More Information About Shooting Revealed
The Secret Service has given more detail about the shooter’s position, and has confirmed that he was killed shortly after he attempted to assassinate the former President.
They also confirmed that the shooter was perched on a nearby roof and used an AR-style rifle.
