A gunman opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, leaving one person dead and two others critically injured.
A shocking assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has shaken the nation to its core. The incident, which authorities are investigating as a deliberate attack, unfolded with alarming precision, leaving one man dead and two others critically injured.
At approximately 6:11 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, shots rang out from a nearby rooftop as Trump delivered a speech to a sizeable crowd. Rally attendees witnessed the horrifying events unfold, with many initially believing the gunfire to be fireworks or firecrackers. However, it quickly became apparent that a serious attack was underway.
Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump Sparks Nation-Wide Uproar
Law enforcement officers present at the rally, including members of the Secret Service, acted swiftly to neutralize the shooter, Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was spotted on a nearby rooftop with an AR-15 rifle, aiming at the former president.
In a chaotic scene, Secret Service agents fired back, killing Crooks on the spot. In the crossfire, a 50-year-old man, Corey Comperatore, was fatally shot while protecting his family. Two others, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were critically wounded.
Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump Sparks Nation-Wide Uproar
Former President Trump was quickly whisked away from the stage by Secret Service agents and transported to a nearby medical facility for evaluation. According to Donald Trump Jr., his father sustained a bullet wound to his right ear but is in good condition.
President Biden, former President Obama, and other political figures have condemned the assassination attempt and called for unity in the face of such violence. The FBI has launched an investigation into the incident, with President Biden and former President Trump speaking directly following the attack.
Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump Sparks Nation-Wide Uproar
The Secret Service has also issued statements detailing the events and confirming one fatality and two injuries. Authorities have discovered explosives, including an improvised explosive device (IED), inside a vehicle driven by Crooks, parked near the rally site. Bomb-making materials were also found at his residence.
The investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Trump is ongoing, and the FBI is urging the public to provide any information that may assist in the inquiry. The event has sparked widespread concern and a heightened sense of security at political rallies and gatherings.
Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump Sparks Nation-Wide Uproar
