BREAKING: Former President Donald Trump Shot in Assassination Attempt at Butler Rally

Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in what the FBI has labeled an assassination attempt. The incident left one spectator dead and two others critically injured, leading to chaos and swift action from law enforcement. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was neutralized by the Secret Service. Trump sustained a minor injury but plans to attend the Republican National Convention. The shooting has sparked widespread condemnation and heightened security measures, with ongoing investigations by the FBI and other agencies. With President Donald Trump shot, today will be in the history books.

Key Takeaways:

• Assassination Attempt on Trump: Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which the FBI has labeled an assassination attempt.
• Casualties and Injuries: The shooting resulted in one spectator’s death and two others being critically injured, creating chaos at the event.
• Gunman Neutralized: The gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was neutralized by the Secret Service after firing multiple rounds from an elevated position.
• Trump’s Condition: Trump, who was quickly evacuated from the scene, sustained a minor injury to his ear and later posted on Truth Social about the incident. He plans to attend the Republican National Convention despite the attack.
• Political Reactions: The incident elicited widespread condemnation from both sides of the political spectrum, with calls for unity against political violence from President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other political figures.
• Heightened Security: In response to the shooting, there was a significant increase in security measures, including a heavy police presence outside Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
• Investigations Ongoing: The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the motive behind the shooting and the background of the shooter, with preliminary indications suggesting he acted alone.
• Heroic Actions: Law enforcement and Secret Service agents were praised for their swift and heroic actions in neutralizing the shooter and ensuring the safety of the attendees.
• Public and Political Support: The incident sparked an outpouring of support for Trump from his family, supporters, and political allies, emphasizing resilience and condemning the violence.

Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear after a gunman perched on the roof of a nearby building opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The FBI has called this a harrowing incident an assassination attempt.

The shooting, which occurred on the eve of the Republican National Convention, left one spectator dead, two others critically injured, and sparked chaos at the event. As the former president spoke, shots crackled. Trump, hand to his ear, dropped to the ground, where he was surrounded by agents before being hustled off the stage into a waiting car amid the screams and confusion of the crowd.

The FBI, overseen by the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the U.S. attorney’s office in Pittsburgh, is investigating the shooting, which comes amid a heightened threat environment. The Secret Service stated that a shooter “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” and agents “neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.”

President Donald Trump Shot: Survives Assassination Attempt

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that the shooter fired as many as eight rounds from an AR-style rifle while perched on a rooftop adjacent to the venue, approximately 200-300 yards away. It was “surprising” that the suspected gunman managed to get off as many shots as he allegedly did, with officials describing him as a “very determined attacker.”

One spectator was killed, and two others critically injured, according to the Secret Service. All were adult men, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said during a press conference. The shots fired were “scattered,” and the injured and deceased were spread throughout the crowd.

Early on Sunday, the FBI identified the suspected gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The FBI had initially withheld the shooter’s name during the sensitive early stages of the investigation. Early indications suggested that the shooter was a lone wolf, though the situation remained fluid.

FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said the agency was trying to assess the motive for the shooting and confirm the gunman’s identity. “It’s a matter of doing biometric confirmations. There was no identification on the individual, so we’re looking at photographs and trying to run his DNA for biometric confirmation.”

As Trump was taken off stage, there appeared to be blood on his right ear. He was seen mouthing “fight” and pumping his fist. Bivens described the scene as “chaotic” and commended law enforcement for their “heroic” actions. Officials were also following up on reports of suspicious occurrences received before the shooting.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Trump thanked law enforcement and first responders for their quick action. Trump was checked out at a local medical facility and later released, leaving the Butler area under Secret Service protection.

On Truth Social, Trump posted, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong as I heard a whizzing sound and felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized what was happening.” He expressed condolences to the family of the rallygoer who was killed and stated his plans to still attend the RNC.

The incident sent shockwaves throughout the political world, sparking condemnation and support from both sides of the aisle. President Joe Biden called the incident “sick” and emphasized that “there’s no place in America for this kind of violence.” Vice President Kamala Harris expressed relief that Trump was not seriously injured and condemned the act of violence.

Donald Trump Jr. told ABC News that his father was “in good spirits” and remained under observation. He declared that his father is “never gonna stop.” Trump’s son Eric posted on X, “This is the fighter America needs!” with a photo of his father’s raised fist. Ivanka Trump called the shooting “senseless” and wrote “I love you Dad” on X.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, on X, said he was “praying for President Trump” and urged every American to join in. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas condemned the violence in the strongest possible terms and commended the Secret Service for their swift action.

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance blamed President Biden for the incident, suggesting without evidence that Biden’s campaign rhetoric against Trump led to the attempted assassination. House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed a “FULL INVESTIGATION OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS TODAY” in a statement on X.

During the rally, Trump was discussing immigration when shots were fired, causing chaos. Witness Dave McCormick, running for U.S. Senate, described hearing “seven or eight” shots and seeing people panic and drop to the ground. Another witness, Leonard Verdetto, described hearing “popping sounds” and people yelling “get down!”

Speaker Rico Elmore, who was about 20 feet from Trump, initially thought the shots were “fireworks.” He tried to assist an injured person but realized it was too late as the person was bleeding from the head. John Dohanich, another witness, described bullets hitting the stands and people screaming “get down.”

Following the shooting, Trump, with blood on his ear and the side of his face, was quickly led off the stage, pumping his fist. Heavily armed security personnel took the stage as he was led away.

The Secret Service issued a statement confirming an incident at the rally and the implementation of protective measures. The White House said President Biden had received an initial briefing on the incident.

In the aftermath, there was a heavy police presence outside Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned the violence as “absolutely unacceptable” and called for prayers for everyone involved.