Assassination Attempt on Former President Donald Trump at RallyAssassination Attempt on Former President Donald Trump at Rally On Saturday, July 13, 2024, former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Timeline of Events: * 6:02 PM ET: Trump takes the stage and begins his speech. * Around 6:10 PM: A man climbs onto the roof of a nearby building and fires shots at the platform where Trump is speaking. * Trump ducks behind his lectern, and Secret Service agents rush to protect him. * Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, is killed while shielding his family from gunfire. * Secret Service agents return fire and kill the shooter. * About 1 minute after the shots: Trump stands up, visibly injured, and pumps his fist to the cheering crowd. * About 2 minutes after the shots: Trump is escorted to a vehicle and taken to a hospital. * 6:50 PM: The Secret Service announces that Trump is safe. * 8:42 PM: Trump posts on social media that he was wounded in the ear. * About 12:10 AM: Trump’s private jet lands at Newark Liberty International Airport. * Trump travels to his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Suspect: The FBI has identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Casualties: * Thomas Matthew Crooks (shooter) – Killed * Corey Comperatore (former fire chief) – Killed * Two others – Seriously wounded Aftermath: Trump was treated for a minor wound to his ear and released from the hospital. The Secret Service is investigating the incident, and the FBI is conducting a separate probe. Political Reactions: The assassination attempt has sparked widespread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans. Many have praised the actions of the Secret Service and the heroism of Comperatore.
Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, sparking panic as the bloodied Trump was surrounded by Secret Service members and smuggled into his vehicle.
A former fire chief who was attending the rally with family was killed, as was the shooter. Two others were seriously wounded.
An AP analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from the scene of the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as well as satellite images of the location, shows the shooter got astonishingly close to the podium where the former president spoke.
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Here’s what’s known so far about the timeline of the shooting.
6:02 PM ET
Trump takes the stage to the sounds of “God Bless the USA.” He waves to the cheering crowd and begins his customary rally speech, with spectators both in front of him and behind him on daisies.
Around 6:10 pm
— After protesters saw a man climbing onto the roof of a nearby building, a local police officer climbed to the roof, two police officers said.
— A man identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks points his gun at the agent, who runs down the ladder, officials said.
— Crooks then fires rapidly, according to officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
— Trump shows off border crossing numbers as gunfire begins.
— As the first pop rings out, Trump says, “Oh,” and he raises his hand to his right ear and looks at it, before quickly crouching to the floor behind his lectern.
— Secret Service agents rush to the podium and climb on top of the former president to protect him.
— Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former fire chief who attended the rally, is shot dead. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday that Comperatore used his body as a shield to protect his wife and daughter.
— Secret Service snipers return fire, firing at Crooks.
About 1 minute after the shots
— The video shows Trump standing up and reaching with his right hand to his face, which is smeared with blood.
—As Trump stands, he pumps his right fist toward the crowd.
— He appears to say the word “fight” loudly twice to his supporters, prompting loud cheers and then chants of “USA. USA. USA.”
About 2 minutes after the shots
Trump turns to the crowd and raises his fist in the air again, just before officers put him in a vehicle and take him to a local hospital.
6:50 pm
The Secret Service says “the former president is safe.”
20:42 hours
Trump posted on his social media site that he was wounded in the upper part of his right ear. “I knew right away something was wrong, I heard a whooshing sound, gunfire, and immediately felt the bullet rip through the skin,” he said.
About 12:10 pm
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Trump’s private jet lands at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Video posted by an aide showed the former president stepping off the plane flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter-assault team, an unusually visible display of power by his protective detail.
Trump travels to his private golf club in nearby Bedminster, New Jersey, for an overnight stay.
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Stengle contributed to this report from Dallas. Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report from Chicago and writer Colleen Long contributed to this report from Washington.
