Push Admin

What we know: Trump assassination attempt

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720946895680AFP__20240714__36442TQ__v2__Preview__DonaldTrumpHoldsAnElectionRally.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A person is removed by state police from the stands after guns were fired at Republican candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. Rebecca Droke, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A person is removed by state police from the stands after guns were fired at Republican candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. <em>Rebecca Droke, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>BUTLER (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a political rally Saturday, leaving the FBI hunting for information about how a gunman could attack a former US president.</p><p>Here is a blow-by-blow account of the shooting in Pennsylvania, where one Trump supporter was killed.</p><div><strong>- How it unfolded -</strong></div><p>Dressed in a white shirt, dark blazer and bright red MAGA cap, Trump was railing against illegal immigration when shots rang out at 6:08 pm (2208 GMT).</p><p>&quot;Take a look at what happened...&quot; he said, his words cut off by four shots in quick succession.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3062507"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script><p>Trump grabbed his right ear as repeated shouts of &quot;get down!&quot; were heard, before a fifth and sixth shot.</p><p>The former president crouched down behind the lectern as Secret Service agents moved in around him. Screams were heard in the crowd.</p><p>Within four seconds further shots were fired, prompting more supporters to get down while additional agents rushed to the stage.</p><p>Seventeen seconds after the first shots, a final pop was heard and a woman screamed.</p><p>Three heavily-armed members of the security forces moved onto the stage 22 seconds after the shooting started.</p><p>Secret Service agents swiftly shared instructions --  such as &quot;we&#x27;re clear&quot; and &quot;let&#x27;s move&quot; -- before they lifted up a disheveled Trump.</p><p>Visible once more around one minute after the gunfire started, Trump said &quot;let me get my shoes&quot; as the agents formed a ring around him.</p><p>It&#x27;s another 13 seconds until Trump raised his fist to the crowd, who responded with cheers.</p><p>As the former leader was ushered off the stage, his MAGA cap in hand, onlookers chanted &quot;USA!&quot;.</p><p>Trump paused briefly to pump his fist in the air, before stepping off the stage.</p><p>Immediately before disappearing into an SUV and just two minutes after the assassination attempt started, Trump raised his fist once more and turned briefly towards the crowd.</p><p>As the car pulled away, heavily-armed security forces dressed in khaki fatigues moved onto the scene.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/7/14/former-us-president-donald-trump-survives-assasination-attempt-1316">READ: Former US president Donald Trump survives assassination attempt</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/7/13/trump-evacuated-from-rally-stage-after-apparent-shots-heard-708">READ: Trump evacuated from rally stage after apparent shots heard</a></div><div><strong>- Trump says &#x27;felt the bullet&#x27; -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hx7yjtoAJf0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Trump gave his first account of the shooting at 8:42 pm, posting on his Truth Social site.</p><p>&quot;I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,&quot; Trump wrote.</p><p>&quot;I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.&quot;</p><p>The White House said President Joe Biden was given an initial briefing on the incident by 6:50 pm.</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s no place in America for this kind of violence. It&#x27;s sick. It&#x27;s sick,&quot; Biden told reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.</p><p>Shortly before 10:30 pm, Biden&#x27;s office said he had spoken to Trump and would cut short his beach weekend to return to Washington.</p><div><strong>- Shooter named -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-AR7Jwx5Q3w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania&#x27;s Bethel Park, according to US media.</p><p>Crooks was named by the FBI &quot;as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump&quot;.</p><p>The New York Times, citing official records, reported that Crooks was registered to vote as a Republican, but had previously donated $15 to a liberal voter turnout group.</p><p>The Secret Service said the shooter &quot;fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally&quot; before being &quot;neutralized&quot; by agents.</p><p>Multiple witnesses said they saw the gunman before the shooting and alerted authorities.</p><p>Trump supporter Ryan Knight said he saw the attacker on a nearby building.</p><p>&quot;When I was sitting there, a guy said: &#x27;Oh God, he had a gun&#x27;,&quot; Knight told journalists.</p><p>A video published by US outlet TMZ shows the alleged shooter on a rooftop while holding a rifle.</p><p>The man has long brown hair and is seen lying on his front wearing khaki clothes, according to the footage, which AFP was unable to immediately verify.</p><p>Local police said they had &quot;responded to a number of reports of suspicious activity&quot; but gave no further details.</p><p>The attacker was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, US media reported.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/7/14/long-history-of-shootings-in-us-presidential-politics-1243">READ: Long history of shootings in US presidential politics</a></div><div><strong>- Victims -</strong></div><p>The gunman and a bystander were killed at the rally, while two spectators were critically wounded.</p><p>Two witnesses told US media they saw a man fatally shot in the head.</p><p>&quot;The man beside me suffered a gunshot to the head, was instantly killed (and)... Another woman looked like she got hit in the forearm or hand,&quot; a man, whose name was only given as Joseph, told NBC News.</p><p>A second witness, who said he was an emergency doctor, said he went to help after someone shouted that a person had been shot.</p><p>&quot;The guy had spun around, was jammed between the benches. He had a headshot here,&quot; he said, indicating a spot on his head, in comments shared widely in US media.</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s lots of blood and he had brain matter,&quot; said the man, who was wearing a white USA T-shirt stained with blood.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a political rally Saturday, leaving the FBI hunting for information about how a gunman could attack a former US president.</p>

Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a political rally Saturday, leaving the FBI hunting for information about how a gunman could attack a former US president.