Here’s what we know about the Pennsylvania shooting that injured former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
Where did it happen?
The shooting occurred during a presidential campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a city in the western part of the state, about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh.
What happened?
About six minutes into Trump’s speech, he could be seen holding his ear after loud pops echoed through the rally. Trump fell to the ground as several Secret Service agents rushed the stage and surrounded him on all sides. Screams from spectators echoed as the scene unfolded.
About a minute later, agents helped Trump off the ground and to his feet. He raised his fist to the crowd, eliciting applause from fans. Several agents took Trump off the stage and escorted him to a vehicle.
Blood could be seen in his ear and on the side of his face. Later he said on his social media site, Truth Social, that “a bullet pierced the top of my right ear.”
Trump was speaking about President Joe Biden’s immigration policies when shots were fired.
Is Trump alive?
Trump is safe, one Secret Service spokesperson wrote on Xand is expected to survive.
Someone got hurt?
Secret Service said in a statement about X that they “neutralized the shooter, who has since passed away.”
“The U.S. Secret Service responded quickly with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated,” the statement said. “One spectator was killed, two spectators were seriously injured.”
“The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the statement concluded.
The FBI said it is investigating and that special agents from its field office in Pittsburgh responded immediately. “We will continue to support this investigation with the full resources of the FBI, along with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is asked to call our tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
Who is the shooter? What was the reason?
The shooter is dead, Secret Service confirmed in X. The identity of the shooter It has not yet been confirmed, but according to four US law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation, the shooter was male.
It was not known whether the shooter acted alone or in coordination with others. It is unclear what the shooter’s motive was.
Where was the shooter? Did the shooter get past security?
Shots were fired from outside the security perimeter established by the Secret Service, three senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.
The information clarifies whether and how a shooter could have passed a firearm through the security and weapon detection magnetometers at the rally. It appears the shooter did not.
What have we heard from Trump?
Trump posted about the incident on Truth Social.
“I was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong as I heard a buzzing sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet tearing through the skin. There was a lot of bleeding, then I realized what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!” he wrote.
He expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and authorities for their quick response. He added: “Most importantly I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person who died at the Rally and also to the family of another person who was seriously injured.”
“It is incredible that such an act could happen in our country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead,” he wrote.
Trump’s presidential campaign is in a “complete communications standstill,” said James Blair, political director of the campaign and the Republican National Committee, in a message sent to campaign team members.
“Everything is fine,” Blair wrote. “We don’t have any details to share at this time, but we will be coming back soon with more information.”
“Anyone speaking to the press, even in the background or unofficially, will be found and fired immediately,” Blair wrote, according to two people who received the message and shared it with NBC News. “Refrain from commenting, speculating, posting on social media, etc. Complete and total lockdown.”
Blair also urged employees to “exercise extreme caution during this time” and emphasized that their “personal safety is of utmost importance.”
“Pray, remain vigilant and be strong,” he said. “Let’s make America great again.”
What have we heard from Trump’s family?
Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, condemned the attack on a statement about X, thanking people for their prayers. “I am grateful to the Secret Service and all other law enforcement officials for their quick and decisive actions today,” she wrote. “I continue to pray for our country.”
“I love you, dad, today and always,” she added.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said in a statement through his spokesman that he spoke with his father by phone and was in “very good spirits.” “He will never stop fighting to save America, no matter what the radical left throws at him,” Trump Jr. said.
Your brother Eric Trump tweeted a photo of his father raising his fist in the air after the shooting. “This is the fighter America needs!” the post read.
Did Biden respond?
Speaking briefly from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Biden said he has been briefed on the incident and plans to speak with Trump on Saturday night.
“I tried to talk to Donald. He is with his doctors,” Biden said. “I intend to speak to him soon, I hope.” He added that “there is no place in America for this type of violence.”
“It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country,” he said. “We can’t tolerate it.”
Biden said it appeared Trump was OK and that he would receive updates on the incident from federal agencies.
Asked by a reporter if he believed the scene was an assassination attempt, Biden said: “I have an opinion, but I don’t have all the facts.”
Biden added that he wanted more information before commenting further. The president learned of the shooting as he left a Catholic Mass he was attending in Delaware, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The campaign has been suspended, a campaign official said. The campaign will “pause all external communications and work to remove our television ads as quickly as possible,” the official said.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
