Former President Donald Trump was rushed off the stage with blood on the side of his head and his ear after shots were fired just minutes into his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Trump is currently safe and is expected to survive, according to two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter.
One spectator from the rally is dead, and a second is in serious condition, according to the Butler County district attorney. The shooter is dead, NBC News confirms.
Trump was just about six minutes into his speech when he reached for the side of his face as popping sounds rang out over the rally. He then crouched down as Secret Service agents rushed the stage and surrounded him. He was quickly escorted into a vehicle, walking off the stage with agents on all sides.
Trump pumped his fists in the air as he was escorted off of the stage. The crowd cheered as the former president raised his arms.
Reporters on the scene saw smoke and heard what they initially thought were fireworks before everyone ducked and law enforcement encircled Trump.
Speaking in a parking lot near the event side, a mother and son who were attending the rally told NBC News that they saw people in the crowd who were injured and carried away. People remained at the scene for 10 to 15 minutes after Trump was taken away, after which they were then told it was an active crime scene and all attendees were escorted out.
Three senior law enforcement officials said that they are looking into whether two other individuals in the crowd were shot at the rally. The threat has been “contained,” according to the officials.
A Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement posted to X that “the former President is safe.”
“This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available,” agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi posted.
Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung said that the former president “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,” Cheung said.
Bullet pierced upper part of my right ear – Trump
Former President Donald Trump has released a statement following the shooting incident at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which left one person dead and another seriously injured.
Trump himself sustained a minor injury during the attack.
“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,” Trump said in his statement.
He went on to express his condolences to the families of the victims stating, “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.”
The incident occurred as Trump began his final rally before the Republican Party convention. Witnesses reported hearing a series of loud bangs that sounded like gunshots, causing chaos at the event.
John Yeykal, an attendee from Franklin, Pennsylvania, described the scene saying, “We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots, it sounded like between firecrackers and a small caliber handgun.”
Meanwhile, Trump provided details about his injury, stating, “I was shot with a bullet that 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. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
The Secret Service quickly rushed Trump off the stage and into an SUV. They later confirmed that the “former President is safe” and declared the area an active crime scene.
Trump’s statement revealed that the shooter is now dead, though he added, “Nothing is known at this time about the shooter.”
Both President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama have issued statements condemning the violence and wishing Trump a speedy recovery.
Biden said, “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Meanwhile, Obama echoed this sentiment, stating, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.”
. Culled from CBS News & Punch
