(The Center Square) – A bloody former President Donald Trump shook his fist into the air to show his supporters he was only wounded in an attempted assassination targeting him at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service, but authorities provided only limited details late Saturday night.
The presumed Republican candidate for president this November was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., when video of the event showed multiple loud shots and Trump grabbing at his right ear, followed by obvious blood around the ear. Campaign security quickly surrounded Trump and lowered him to the podium floor.
Law enforcement stormed the stage, while Trump slowly rose to his feet allowing the crowd to see the blood coming from the top of his right ear.
Trump began gesturing to the crowd while being escorted off stage, yelling “fight, fight!.” His supporters cheered back. Trump later said a bullet pierced his upper ear, as video of the event confirmed.
Secret Service members protecting Trump could be seen saying “shooter’s down,” indicating that the person who had fired at Trump was no longer a threat. The shooter was later confirmed dead and was identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
U.S. Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said the shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. Secret Service agents later confirmed they killed the shooter.
Guglielmi said one spectator was dead and two others in attendance were in critical condition.
The Butler County District Attorney confirmed to media that the shooter was dead.
Trump’s campaign posted a statement from the former president.
“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 send 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 happen in our Country,” the statement read. “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 ear. I knew immediately 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!”
The Trump campaign said the former president is being treated at a local hospital but is OK. A Washington Post reporter said “Butler county district attorney Richard Goldinger tells me Trump was grazed by gunfire but is safe. An audience member was killed and the shooter is dead. Another person is in serious condition, the prosecutor said.”
Anthony Gugliemi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, released a statement at 8:49 p.m. on Saturday.
“During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13th at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated. One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured. The incident is under investigation and Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
The attack occurred just two days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where GOP delegates will formally designate Trump as their presidential candidate to take on President Joe Biden in November. The Trump campaign said Saturday that the former president still plans to attend.
— Cole Lauterbach, The Center Square
