Former President Donald Trump was shot in an apparent failed assassination attempt, as he was speaking during a campaign rally at Butler Farm Show grounds, in Butler, Pennsylvania. Two attendees were critically injured, one killed, and the assassin, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man was shot dead on an elevated roof overseeing the stage on which the former president was speaking.
Trump had just begun to fire up the crowd when as many as 7 shots were heard. "And then the worst president in the history of our country took over. And look what happened to our country. Probably 20 million people [came in illegally]. And, you know, that's a little bit old, that chart... that chart's a couple of months old. And if you want to really see something that sad, take a look at what happened over..." the former president said before the gunfire rang out, and he went down, surrounded by Secret Service agents.
A video, filmed from the audience, shows Trump on stage speaking. Within a few seconds someone can be heard shouting: “He’s got a gun!” Another shouted, "he's on the roof!"
A voice could be heard advising others not to go near the building on which the shooter is situated.
Within seconds it’s evident that the shooter had been neutralized. “He’s dead. I just seen his hair go up. They shot him in the head,” someone says.
As they led him away, with what appeared to be blood on his cheek and his right ear, Trump was heard telling his security team, "let me get my shoes," as they brought him to his feet and hustled him off-stage. The former president, bleeding, then raised his arms defiantly chanting "fight, fight" to the crowd as they erupted in chants of "USA USA."
An eyewitness told BBC that he saw the shooter on the elevated roof, and unsuccessfully tried to warn Secret Service agents and police officers standing yards away.
The U.S. Secret Services said in a press release, that the suspected shooter fired from an "elevated position" and killed at least one person and "critically injured" 2 others.
Commenting on the incident later in a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: "I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most 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 another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," he said. "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement, that they have "implemented protective measures."
"An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania," Guglielmi said. "The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available."
Trump's communication director, Steven Cheung, said: "President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility."
In a statement, President Biden said that he has been briefed on the incident: "I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. 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, as we await further information. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."
Trump has since been released from the hospital.
WATCH the moment Trump was shot and eyewitness account
