Shooter dead, rally attendee killed and Donald Trump whisked off stage after gunshots ring out at rally

Image via AP.

Donald Trump was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after gunshots rang through the crowd. Law enforcement officials say the shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the ex-President.

A shooter is dead and an attendee was killed. Two attendees are critically injured.

Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement that the former President was “fine” after a shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A local prosecutor says the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead.

“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”

The Secret Service said in a statement that “the former President is safe.”

Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview that the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed.

Trump was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when bangs started ringing through the crowd. Trump could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his neck. There appeared to be blood on his face.

As the first pop rang out, Trump said, “Oh,” and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard and he crouched down.

He later posted on Truth Social.

“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,” he said. “Most importantly, I want to extend 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 take place in our Country. 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 right ear. I knew immediately that 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.”

Someone could be heard saying near the microphone at Trump’s lectern, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” as agents tackled the former president. They piled atop him to shield him with their bodies, as is their training protocol, as other agents took up positions on stage to search for the threat.

He quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams rang out from the crowd. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.

The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.

His motorcade has left the venue. His condition was not immediately known.

Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage.

The U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies did not immediately respond to messages.

The White House said President Joe Biden received an ‘initial briefing’ on incident at Trump rally. The White House also said Vice President Kamala Harris has received an “initial briefing” on the incident at the Trump rally.

Biden says he has tried to get ahold of Trump but hopes on talking to him shortly.

Biden received an updated briefing from Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the United States Secretary Service, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will conduct a full investigation of the attack, saying, “The American people deserve to know the truth.”

“We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP,” Johnson said.

Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photo on X of Trump, his fist raised and his face bloody in front of an American flag, with the words: “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the three men on Trump’s shortlist for Vice President, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Rubio sharing an image taken as Trump was escorted off stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face along with the words “God protected President Trump.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a statement on X that he had been briefed on the situation and Pennsylvania state police were on hand at the rally site.

“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” he said.

Secret Service agents and officers, assisted by local law enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration, are meant to screen all attendees as they enter a rally site. The Secret Service also deploys counter-snipers and a counter-assault team with the president and major party nominees to address any threats.

Trump, as a former President, retains Secret Service protection for life under federal law. As the presumptive Republican nominee who is frequently in the public eye, he received added protective assets.

Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate David McCormick, who was sitting in the front row, told Politico that it appeared someone behind him was shot.

“All the sudden shots started to crack, someone behind me appears to have been shot,” McCormick said. “There’s lots of blood, and then the Secret Service were all over President Trump.”

Chet Jack, a member of the state Republican Party and former Butler County Republican chairman, and his wife Beth were sitting in the bleachers facing Trump when they heard the shots.

Beth ducked after hearing the shots, feeling relieved for a moment when she thought it had ended — then she heard a second round of shots, which she guessed might have been aimed at the shooter.

“I couldn’t see what happened with President Trump, because the minute I heard a shot, I yelled, ‘Everybody get down!’” Beth said. “I knew that was a shot.”

The couple said they were within feet — less than 10 yards — of a man who was shot in the bleachers.

“Right after he got shot, everybody started screaming, ‘Medic!’” Beth said. “It was just hard because so many people were down, and you’re scared to death but at the same point, you want to know that he’s okay. But they did get somebody there right away.”

“There was a lot of blood,” Chet said.

While Beth and the crowd ducked for cover, Chet said he remained standing, looking for the shooter. He said he believed the shots were coming from above, and that ducking wouldn’t protect him.

“You can’t let these guys — these maniacs — terrify you,” he said.

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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.