Former President Donald Trump has just survived an assassination attempt during a Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
Trump, who was in the middle of delivering his rally speech, was grazed in the right ear by a bullet as he turned toward the right with his hands on his lectern when the sound of multiple gunshots suddenly rang out at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET.
The former president instinctively grabbed his bloodied right ear and dropped to the ground as multiple Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and several more gunshots could be heard. About 45 seconds after Trump was shot, agents were heard on the rally microphone saying, "Shooters down" and it was safe to move the ex-POTUS to a safer place.
As the agents moved Trump offstage into his nearby SUV, he lifted his fist in the air, prompting a loud cheer from the crowd at the rally and he mouthed the word "fight" three times while pumping his fist. The crowd then chanted "USA!" as he was taken down the stairs by several agents and into his vehicle.
"This evening we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump," Kevin Rojek, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent in charge, said at a late-night press conference, confirming that what has just occurred was a serious liquidation threat.
One of the rally attendees was killed in the shooting. Two other rally-goers were critically injured, according to the Secret Service. All of the victims were male as per the FBI.
Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said law enforcement is following up on a "number of suspicious occurrences" including accounts from witnesses who said they tried to flag police about the activity of a person outside the rally moments before the shooting.
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"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. More details will follow," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. He was sent home from the hospital as of this writing.
Trump posted on Truth Social the same evening, describing the shooting. "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, and shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!" Trump wrote.
The shooting comes right before Trump is set to accept the 2024 presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention this coming week. (Related: Leftists call for Biden to order U.S. military to ASSASSINATE Trump before he wins November election.)
Shooter identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, PA
Several hours following the incident, the FBI reported that it has identified the now-deceased shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, just south of Pittsburgh and about 40 miles away from where Trump was speaking.
FBI noted that Crooks is the main "subject involved" in Trump's attempted assassination. State voter records note that Crooks was a registered Republican.
Sources indicate that Crooks planted himself on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the rally grounds where Trump was speaking. He was able to squeeze off multiple shots before Secret Service snipers located him and eventually neutralized him. His body was later recovered with an AR-style rifle.
Why Crooks fired on the Republican Party's standard bearer is still unclear.
Biden "condemns" shooting at Trump’s PA rally
As security concerns heightened following the apparent assassination attempt on Trump, President Joe Biden was quick to react to condemn the shooting incident.
"There's no place in America for this kind of violence," the president said. "It's sick. It's sick. That's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. You cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this." He added that Trump's rally should have been able to take place peacefully, "without any problem."
In his public remarks, the president said he believes Trump is doing well and claimed that he has been updated by top Secret Service and Homeland Security officials. "I have been briefed on the shooting,” He said in a statement. "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," he added. The Biden campaign also announced that they will be pausing all political activity, including outbound communications and will be pulling down television ads as quickly as possible.
A White House official said Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Liz Sherwood-Randall, assistant to the president and Homeland Security adviser, participated in the briefing. Also at the briefing were chief of staff Jeff Zients, White House counsel Steve Ricchetti and deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini. Vice President Kamala Harris' office said she had been briefed as well.
The White House confirmed late Saturday night that Biden and Trump spoke by phone, but did not detail what was said on the call. A Trump adviser also confirmed the two spoke.
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