Former President Trump was shot at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Three spectators were hit by gunfire. One user was killed and two others were seriously injured, the government said.
The FBI is investigating the shooting, which is considered an assassination attempt. The shooter, known as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20.
Quick alerts, 24/7, delivered to your inbox daily. Subscribe to stay up to date with the world’s highlights.
By subscribing, you agree to our policy.
Update incoming. . .
Coverage of this has ended.
fake images
Trump described the incident to the New York Post as a “very surreal experience” that nearly killed him while preparing for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“The doctor at the hospital said he had never noticed anything like that, he called it a miracle,” Trump told the outlet.
“I’m supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead,” the former president added. “I’m supposed to be dead. “
“The officers beat me to such an extent that my shoes fell off and were tight,” Trump said.
The former president also praised the Secret Service for its action and for killing the shooter.
“They took him out with one blow right between the eyes,” he said. “They did a job. It’s surreal for all of us. “
He spoke about the photo of him raising his fist and yelling “Fight” three times as officers tried to remove him from the scene to safety.
“A lot of other people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen,” Trump told the New York Times. “They’re right and I’m not dead. You usually have to die to get an iconic photo. “
Trump will speak at the Republican National Congress on Thursday night.
Volunteer firefighter who died protecting his family from sniper bullets aimed at former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, is remembered as a selfless ‘dad-daughter’ and a hands-on family guy who put others before himself .
“It’s very typical of him the way it all happened, his wife and his daughter, and throwing himself at them when they hear the shooting,” said Eileen Shamanski, whose sons grew up playing soccer alongside Comperatore’s daughters.
Their families have been close for years because of their daughters’ shared interest in soccer, he said. And although Comperatore worked long hours and was a volunteer firefighter in his spare time, he never missed a game or practice, he said.
“At first we didn’t believe it was true when my daughters called me crying,” she said. “Then we saw his wife and his daughter on the news, taking care of him. It was kind of sad to see. Very unhappy, but I know he would have done it in a heartbeat if it had happened. “
Fox News’ Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
fake images
Senator J. D. Vance, R-Ohio, considered the Republican vice presidential candidate’s favorite in three betting markets, criticized the rhetoric coming from Biden’s crusade and his supporters.
“Today is not just an isolated incident,” Vance posted in X. “The central premise of Biden’s crusade is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who will have to be stopped at all costs. “This rhetoric led directly to the assassination attempt on President Trump. “
“We all know that President Trump is more powerful than his enemies. Today it is,” Burgum wrote in X.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. , who has also been touted as a vice presidential candidate, tweeted a photo of a bloodied Trump punching the crowd on Saturday.
“God, President Trump,” Rubio wrote.
Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
A police officer joined “Fox News @ Night” on Sunday to detail what happened when an officer at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania allegedly confronted the shooter on a rooftop before Saturday’s fatal shooting.
The officer managed to reach Crooks by climbing onto another officer’s back, according to Sutton’s sources.
“As he was rising above the roof line, the suspect pointed his gun at him, the officer ducked and, in doing so, fell off the other officer’s back,” Sutton said.
“This is an officer who made a sighting, saw that he was about to be shot, and fell off the back of the other officer,” Sutton said.
Dr. Sheila Nazarian explained the effect of political rhetoric on the country following the attempted assassination of former President Trump at his crossroads rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Nazarian made the comments in a panel discussion on “Fox News@Night” with his colleague, Dr. Houman Hemmati.
Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company
Corey Comperatore was killed in the shooting while Trump survived an assassination attempt and other bystanders were injured.
“As many of you have already heard, last night we lost one of our members, Corey Comperatore, in a senseless act of violence,” the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company in Pennsylvania wrote Sunday on Facebook. “Corey, a lifelong volunteer firefighter with our corporate and all who knew him will be greatly missed. “
“Corey, rest brother and we’ll take care of it from now on,” the message continued. “Please pray and send an intelligent mind to Corey’s circle of family and to all who knew him. “
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. , said he will donate $50,000 to GoFundMe to help victims of Saturday’s shooting at former President Trump’s crusade rally in Butler, Florida, Pennsylvania.
The former president posted the GoFundMe page, which as of Monday morning had raised more than $3. 5 million.
Scott joins singer Kid Rock, UFC president Dana White and others in donating to the fundraiser.
“I donate my Senate salary every quarter and am honored to join @KidRock, @danawhite, @ufc and others in supporting the victims of the Butler shooting,” Scott wrote on X. “I am sending $50K to this great cause.”
President Biden addressed the country from the Oval Office on Sunday night, saying the attempted assassination of former President Trump forced Americans to “take a step back” and called on all sides to “lower the temperature on our politic”.
Trump’s assassination “calls us all to take a step back, to take inventory of where we are,” he added.
Biden said he was “grateful” that Trump “is doing well” and said he is keeping “him and his family in our prayers. “He also offered “our deepest condolences” to the family of Corey Comperatore, who fired while protecting himself. his spouse and daughters of the bullets.
“There is no position in America for this type of violence or any violence, period. No exceptions,” Biden said.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
The Secret Service said allegations that its resources were diverted from former President Trump to an occasion honoring the first Jill Biden were inaccurate.
Questions have been raised about the Secret Service’s security at the former president’s crusade in Pennsylvania on Saturday following his assassination at the event.
But Secret Service communications leader Anthony Guglielmi responded that Crabtree’s claims were “very false. “
“Susan, this is so wrong,” she wrote. We have not diverted resources from Trump’s FPOTUS and the coverage models do not look like that. As for the “field working groups,” they are the operational groups of the nominated candidates to which election years are added due to the speed of travel.
Getty Images
“I can verify that Mr. Crooks was a member of the Clairton Sportsman’s Club,” the club’s legal counsel, Robert Bootay, said in a statement to Fox News. “Beyond this, the Club cannot comment further on this matter in light of the ongoing police investigations. Clearly, the Club completely condemns the senseless act of violence that occurred yesterday. The Club also extends its deepest condolences to the Comperatore circle of relatives and extends its prayers to all the injured, the former president added.
A witness to the attempted assassination of former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Sunday that he believes the commotion created among viewers after seeing a guy with a gun may have saved the president’s life.
DiFrischia said he had been in a position where he could see the teleprompter for about 10 minutes. As Trump began to speak, he focused on watching the president when his wife, who was next to him, nudged him to alert him to her presence. of a child running through the crowd. Someone else in the crowd saw the young man and said he had a gun.
DiFrischia told Ingraham that he thought the guy was looking to have a better attitude at the rally and didn’t think much of it, so he started going after Trump again.
But when others heard the guy had a gun, “chaos ensued and everyone screamed to alert police to the situation,” DiFrischia explained.
DiFrischia said the saddest component is that someone lost their life.
“Fortunately, President Trump was only injured. He didn’t lose his life either,” DiFrischia said. “I think the fact that we had caused a commotion would have saved the president’s life, because otherwise this guy could have had all the world’s time to do anything. Luckily someone saw it and we were able to make enough noise.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr told Fox News’ Jesse Watters on Sunday that President Biden’s sentiments toward political rhetoric were noble, adding to the hopes they will raise after calling former President Trump “Adolph Hitler, a racist and a fascist. “
Watters opened the interview by asking Barr, “Why can the media call Trump a Nazi who’s going to jail all his children and expect everyone to say, ‘Oh, you know, this is just a deal between the two sides?'”
Barr said that when someone is “demonized to the extent that Trump was” and is targeted, he wouldn’t put all the blame on Democrats because “both parties sometimes engage in excessive rhetoric. “
On Sunday night, Biden spoke from the Oval Office and warned that political violence will have to stop. Watters asked Barr if he expected Democrats to tone down his rhetoric.
Barr said Biden’s sentiments were “very noble” and that he hopes Biden will stand his ground, because if they think the rhetoric has gone too far, they will.
Watters asked the former attorney general if he trusted the FBI to conduct a blank investigation into Saturday’s assassination attempt, to which Barr said they would be given a chance.
However, he added that there is a lot to investigate, especially regarding Secret Service agents.
“I have no doubt that they are unwavering and brave, and that they would take a bullet for President Trump,” he said. “But there were apparent setbacks that need to be carefully evaluated. “
Finally, Watters asked Barr if he would fire Secret Service Director Cheatle.
Barr told the host he would fire her, “just for having a tin ear and going out and being visual and saying something” about how an assassination attempt could have occurred.
“I think it’s vital to initiate discussion and transparency with other Americans and the way they’re acting today, just trying to tell Milwaukee and not say anything about it, was so clumsy that I would fire her just for not understanding. “The duty of government officials is to interact with the public,” he said.
Former Republican President Donald Trump speaks at a crusade rally in Butler, Pa. , Saturday, July 13, 2024. Trump ducked and was removed from the level after loud noises were heard after he began speaking. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Former President Trump told a news outlet that he “completely” rewrote the speech he planned to give at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee this week.
In a recent interview with the Washington Examiner’s Salena Zito, Trump said his new speech would focus on American unity after Saturday’s shocking events.
Instead of focusing on attacking President Biden’s policies, his new speech would unite the country.
“It is a possibility to unite the whole country, even the whole world,” explained the former president. “The speech will be very different, very different from what it would have been two days ago. “
The roof where a would-be assassin opened fire on former President Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday was allegedly a security breach before the event.
“Someone was on the roof or secured the construction so no one could get on the roof,” a former Secret Service agent familiar with the plans told the news outlet.
The shooting, which wounded Trump, killed one player and injured others, raised serious questions about how the suspect, known as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was able to access the roof within the diversity and direct view of the location. The president spoke.
Former President Trump shot in the right ear after turning to the right amid gunfire. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Getty Images)
A prominent Democratic fundraiser and political strategist is apologizing after emailing reporters Saturday night suggesting that the assassination attempt on former President Trump may have possibly been “staged. “
Mehlhorn wrote that false flag attacks were “a classic Russian tactic” used by Vladimir Putin to force in 1999 and that other examples of “tactics to commit crude evils and then reap benefits from the backlash will come with Hamas on October 7. “
Click here for more.
FOX Business’ Eric Revell contributed to this report.
President Biden addressed the country Sunday night following the assassination of his Republican rival, former President Trump, at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Biden implored Americans to “turn down the temperature on our politics. “
“Even if we disagree, we are not enemies. We are neighbors. We are friends, colleagues, citizens and, most importantly, we are fellow Americans. We want to stay together,” Biden said.
Biden said Saturday’s shooting required “taking a step back, taking inventory of where we are. “
The president reiterated that the country should not embark on the path of political violence.
“United States We’ve traveled before, our history, violence has never been the answer,” Biden said, invoking the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in October 2022.
“There is never a position in the United States for this kind of violence – for any violence. Period. No exceptions. We cannot allow this violence to be normalized,” Biden said.
Former President Trump and his spouse Melania (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP Getty Images)
“Let all Americans understand that their adversaries are valuable and complete human beings,” RFK Jr. said.
Melania Trump’s message came in the wake of former President Trump’s assassination Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Our personal, structural and important commitment – even to death – is seriously threatened. “Political concepts are undeniable compared to us human beings… This morning, overcome the hatred, vitriol and undeniable concepts that ignite violence,” he continued. “We all need a world where respect is paramount, family comes first and love transcends. We can make this global backup. Each one of us will have to claim it. We will have to insist that once respect becomes the cornerstone of our relationships. »
Two FBI investigators scan the roof of AGR International Inc. , the building adjacent to the Butler Expo Center, from where suspected shooter Matthew Thomas Crooks shot former President Donald J. Trump, following the killing at a July 14, 2024, crossover rally in Butler. Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
The FBI believes the suspected shooter at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday acted alone, but the bureau is talking to the suspect’s friends and family to see if anyone knew of his plans, a senior official told Fox News.
Kevin Rojek, a special agent with the FBI in Pittsburgh, said last Sunday that data received through the bureau indicated that the shooter acted alone and that there was no public safety issue.
The FBI recovered the suspect’s cell phone and sent it to Quantico, but has not yet been able to extract any data. Once they do, it could open other avenues for subjects who were potentially aware of the suspect’s plans.
ATF at the site of Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania “minutes” after an assassination attempt on the president, according to the agency.
The ATF identified the shooter in less than 30 minutes by conducting an urgent search through the agency’s National Tracing Center of a nearby stockbroker’s bankruptcy records and turned that data over to the FBI and the U. S. Secret Service.
ATF experts at the agency’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR) are offering similar assistance to suspected destructive devices, ATF said.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki called on the Republican National Committee to review its planned schedule for the upcoming conference in the face of “an escalation” in the country’s rhetoric following the failed assassination attempt on former President Trump.
During an appearance Sunday on “Meet the Press,” Psaki described feeling “scared” following the attack on former President Trump, echoing panelists who called on the country to end divisive political rhetoric.
With the Republican National Convention set to begin Monday, Psaki said the party will adjust scheduled speakers and programming to lower the temperature and “restore civility. ” Psaki said that even though Democrats’ calls to remove Biden from the 2024 race have been “on hold,” the conference may simply reignite the conversation.
Read the full article on Jen Psaki via Yael Halon
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at a June 4 news conference in Chicago. (KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP Getty Images)
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, the 27th director of the United States Secret Service (USSS), has been nominated by President Biden to lead the Secret Service in 2022, making her the moment in history to lead the agency.
“This good fortune in a male-dominated industry has eluded me,” Cheatle said in a Security Magazine 2022 article on “Women in Security. ”
“I kept a picture on my table of the first five women who took the oath and used it to remind myself that those women created opportunities for me and that I too can make others grow and lead. “
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by United States Secret Service agents as they help him out of the level of a crossover rally in Butler, Pa. , Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Former President Trump is “extremely lucky” to be alive after the fatal killing at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, according to two special forces soldiers.
“He’s incredibly lucky to be alive,” James Pechi, a Navy veteran who later served as a Green Beret, said of the former president in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Pechi – who took part in the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC), now known as the Special Forces Sniper Course, during his tenure in the military – insisted “there’s no ifs, ands or buts about” the fact that Trump could have lost his life at the rally if the bullet had come into closer contact.
A state police helicopter takes off near Trump’s closed rally as investigations into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump continue, in Butler, Pennsylvania, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) on Sunday issued a call for the creation of an independent commission to investigate “security lapses” at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
In a statement, the South Carolina representative called the situation a “catastrophic failure to ensure the protection of the ‘protected'” after former President Trump shot him in the top of the ear.
“We cannot rely solely on Congressional oversight hearings or even the Agency’s inspectors general to get the answers that Congress and other Americans deserve about President Trump’s failure to properly manage. “
Duncan the hypothetical Warren Commission commission, which investigated the shooting of President John F. Kennedy, Jr.
“It would be similar to the Warren Commission that was appointed after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy,” Duncan added. “Furthermore, the Independent Commission will address the errors of federal and state law enforcement on this occasion which, without a miracle from God, could have led to a much more tragic outcome. “
Trump Force One lands in Milwaukee ahead of the Republican National Convention. (Pool)
Trump Force One landed in Milwaukee around 6:45 p. m. on Sunday night, a day after a man allegedly attempted to assassinate former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Eric Trump shared a video on social media of Trump Force One landing in Milwaukee from the cockpit of the plane.
When Trump’s plane began to descend, only about 25 of his supporters were waiting, one of whom was waving a giant American flag.
Families with young people also awaited the arrival of the presidential candidate, while a woman passed by shouting: “Yes, Trump!”
Another couple walked by and asked what everyone was waiting for, and when told they were waiting for Trump, the woman responded, “That’s a shame. “
Fox News’ Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
A video filmed at Donald Trump’s rally on Saturday appears to show the government fighting back after gunshots were heard that wounded the former president as he spoke.
For a moment, it turns out that something caught the police sniper’s attention seconds before the shots rang out. The police sniper retaliates as members of the United States Secret Service (USSS) rush to protect the former president.
The would-be killer, later known as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed through the Secret Service after firing several bullets.
The FBI said Sunday it was investigating the shooting and called it a possible act of domestic terrorism.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FOX BUSINESS BLOG
President Biden and former President Trump (Getty Images)
The change in tone comes after an alleged gunman assassinated Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Today, President Biden will deliver a tough speech to inform the country about the horrific attack on Donald Trump and the desire for all Americans to come together in a combined country to not only condemn, but also end political violence in this country time and time again. “, said the director of the crusade.
But after the interview with Holt, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and Biden’s crusade will accentuate their denunciation of Trump.
“Following the president’s interview Monday night, the Democratic National Committee and the crusade will continue to contrast our positive long-term view with Trump and Republicans’ backward-looking schedule for the week,” the official said. Biden crusade.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Pass)
The vulnerable Democratic congressman took to X to denounce the existing path he believes the country is on, adding that leaders will have to take the United States down another path.
“We can start by abandoning hyperbolic threats about what is at stake in this election,” he wrote. “This should not be misrepresented as a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism or a war against fascists or socialists bent on destroying United States. These are harmful lies. “
Police snipers climb onto a rooftop to prepare before former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at an event in Butler, Pa. , Saturday, July 13, 2023 (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar).
A Pennsylvania woman attended former President Trump’s rally on Saturday with her spouse and at first wasn’t sure if the pops she heard were directly similar to those of a gun or if they had set off fireworks.
“It was a beautiful day and as we were sitting there, they looked like firecrackers,” Chris Konopka, 56, of McMurray, Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital by phone. “I didn’t panic because without delay I thought, ‘Okay, who is the fool who did this because he’s ruining it for everyone?’
“No one drinking, singing, yelling, any of that,” he said.
Read the full article on the shooting at Trump’s rally via Gabriele Regalbuto
An employee carries a chair during protests at the Republican National Convention, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, Secret Service coordinator for the Republican National Committee, said the occasion had been designated as a special security occasion, the security designation point.
“We anticipate any adjustments to our operational security plans for this event,” he said when asked if any adjustments had been made in the 24 hours after Trump’s failed assassination attempt.
Gibson-Cicchino noted that the plan is a “whole-of-government approach” and that there has been a thorough process of developing plans. Officials noted that Wisconsin is a state where gun home ownership is open, but suggested gun owners be careful and responsible. .
The RNC will continue from Monday to Thursday, when Trump is expected to face the Republican candidate. The stakes of the occasion increased after Trump was shot dead on Saturday.
“So we have an evolved operational security plan for the domain of responsibility similar to all facets of security similar to this event,” Gibson-Cicchino said.
Dan Scavino Jr. , former President Trump’s senior, announced Sunday afternoon that Trump will recently head to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the Republican National Convention (RNC).
He scavenged a video of Trump’s personal jet on an airport tarmac in his social media post.
“President Trump is on his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the @GOPConvention!” the message read. “He is very grateful for all your prayers and thoughtful wishes. “
A video of a witness to Donald Trump’s rally moments before and after a gunman opened fire from a nearby building, wounding the former president, killing an aide and wounding others.
Chaos breaks out as the participants realize what is happening and hide.
“What’s that?” You can hear someone screaming off-camera.
In the end, members of the United States Secret Service shot and killed the would-be killer, later known as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, is surrounded by U. S. secret service agents. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci/AP Images)
Local authorities alerted to the presence of a suspicious individual through attendees, but were unable to locate Mr. Crooks before he climbed onto the roof and opened fire, according to United States Secret Service spokesman Anthony Gugliemi.
Guglielmi told Fox News that Secret Service agents first saw the gunman when he was already shooting on the roof.
At that point, “a secret countersniper neutralized him,” Guglielmi said.
A day after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday afternoon, Dr. Marc Siegel spoke to Fox News about the “miraculous” outcome.
Appearing on “America Reports,” the Fox News medical contributor and clinical professor at New York University Langone Medical Center expressed admiration for Trump’s reaction in what he described as a “war zone. “
“The crowd kept their composure while this was happening. . . They were led through President Trump’s rallying cry, raising their fists, saying ‘fight,’ and not giving up,” Siegel said.
Read the full article on President Trump via Melissa Rudy
The president offered his condolences to the family of a former leader of the Buffalo Township fire on Sunday after revealing himself as the victim killed in the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Chicago police said they are following the scenario related to an assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service Getty Images)
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for August 19-22 in Chicago, and police told the public in an article about X that they are up for the unexpected.
“The Chicago Police Department continues to monitor the scenario that unfolded in Butler, Pennsylvania, as we prepare for the upcoming Democratic National Convention,” the branch wrote. “We have been making conference plans for over a year to prepare. ” anything. As always, DPC will assess and adjust resource needs in real time, based on intelligence and what we are seeing on the ground, for the entire city.
As the conference approaches, police are inspiring everyone to be aware of their surroundings, wherever they are, and if they see something, to say so by calling 911.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , nephew of President John F. Kennedy, assassinated in November 1962, sent “deepest condolences” to Corey Comperatore’s family.
The alleged shooter at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday was allegedly part of his top school’s shooting team.
Fox News spoke with Jacob Kohler, 21, who spoke about the death of suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Kohler described Crooks as an “outcast” who was lonely and “bullied every day. “He said Crooks was on the shooting team with his brother.
Another classmate disputed that claim, telling Fox News that, as he recalls, Crooks hadn’t been on his junior varsity rifle team.
Speaking from Milwaukee, where the Republican National Convention is due to be held this week, Baier said he recently spoke with former President Trump for about 15 minutes. Baier said the Republican nominee “is in a very good mood. “
“He congratulated President Biden on the phone call he made to the former president,” Baier explained. “He said it in a clever verbal exchange, and in a nutshell, Biden expressed his condolences for the lost family. “
Baier also indicated that Trump worries about the negative effects the shooting could have on the United States.
Speaking with Martha MacCallum, Dr. James Sweetland recalled that he immediately came to the aid of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, who fired shots at the rally and was later pronounced dead.
“As an emergency room doctor, I was just relying on muscle memory,” he explained. “I just went there to help them. When they handed it to me, I said, what doctors say is, ‘I’m a doctor. I’m here to help you. ‘”
The medical professional added that he performed CPR on Comperatore before Pennsylvania State Police troopers took the victim away.
Sweetland’s spouse, Lois, told MacCallum how traumatized those present at the rally were during the shooting.
“Everyone is very upset,” he explained. A woman in front of me had just lost control. She was sobbing because she was so traumatized. It was so. . . I felt so bad. “
Thomas Matthew Crooks Yearbook (Bethel Park School District)
The Bethel Park school district in Pennsylvania has shown that the alleged shooter who tried to kill former President Trump graduated from the top school in 2022.
Thomas Matthew Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School as a member of the district’s class of 2022.
District officials also said they would cooperate with authorities in the investigation into the shooting, restricting what they can reveal.
“Going forward, we will heavily collaborate with law enforcement investigators and provide percentage of information, as appropriate, regarding school district policies, active investigation and law enforcement protocols,” wrote Array in the district.
A fatal shooting at a rally by former President Trump is being investigated as a possible terrorist act, the FBI showed Sunday.
Kevin Rojek, special agent with the FBI in Pittsburgh, said data obtained through the FBI indicates the shooter acted alone. The FBI has shown the shooter’s motive.
“Our number one goal here is to identify the subject’s motive and determine if he had other affiliates or anyone else concerned at this time. “The investigation implies that he was a lone actor, but we still have additional investigations to conduct,” Rojek said. “We are investigating this case as an attempted murder, but we also know that this is potentially an act of domestic terrorism. “
Rojek said there was no indication the shooter had intellectual fitness issues or other red flags on his social media account.
At this time, specialist technicians are investigating all the suspect’s evidence, virtual media and social media accounts. The laboratory procedure is the DNA evidence as well as the shooter’s weapon.
Investigators are examining DNA evidence collected after the death of the suspected shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, as well as the weapon used in the attack and his cellphone, the government said.
The weapon, a legally purchased “ARarray 556 rifle,” was discovered near the shooter at the scene, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh ticket office, told reporters in an audio call with reporters.
While searching Crooks’ vehicle, the government discovered a “suspicious device” but got it further analyzed. No details about the device have been revealed.
Investigators also “urgently” ran to the suspect’s cell phone.
Investigators did not discover a motive for the shooting, but said there was no indication that Crooks had been treated for intellectual fitness issues. His family cooperates with the FBI.
“The shooter would have possibly died, but the investigation is ongoing,” Wray said. “What we have witnessed is not yet an attack on democracy and our democratic process. An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate can only be described as certainly despicable and “will not be tolerated in this country. “
As of Sunday, the FBI had won more than 2,000 similar to its investigation.
The 20-year-old from Pennsylvania known as the shooter who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday appeared to have an account on the Discord platform, the company announced Sunday.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Discord spokesperson said an account that appears to be related to Thomas Matthew Crooks was known and removed in accordance with the company’s “off-platform habits policy. “
Read the full article on Thomas Matthew Crooks via Louis Casiano
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is aware of victims who were injured or killed in the shooting at Trump’s rally on Saturday.
On Sunday, the PSP announced that one had died and two others had recently been injured.
“The deceased victim was known as Corey Comperatore, age 50, of Sarver, Pennsylvania,” he said. The second victim was known as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, who has been in good condition lately.
“The third victim was known as James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. It is indexed in good condition. “
“The Pennsylvania State Police continues to work tirelessly together with our federal, state and local partners as this investigation continues,” Paris added.
The Daily Show, hosted by Jon Stewart, canceled a broadcast scheduled for Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to mark the start of the Republican National Convention.
The program cited “developments in Milwaukee” as part of its reasoning.
“See you on Tuesday,” writes the report of the program in X. The show said it would broadcast the rest of the convention, but from its New York studio.
The organization added that it plans to hold in-person events in Wisconsin “in the coming weeks. “
A police officer confronted the shooter who tried to assassinate former President Trump on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
The Associated Press reported Sunday afternoon that a local officer climbed onto the roof of the spot where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was parked. The officer allegedly confronted Crooks, who pointed his rifle at him.
When the officer left and Crooks shot Trump, Secret Service agents shot Crooks, according to the report. The Associated Press reported that an official shared the main points on condition of anonymity.
Later Sunday, the United States Secret Service told the media that the local government had been alerted to a risk before the shooting began, but had not been able to locate the shooter in time.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this update.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (Photo via SERGIO FLORES/AFP Getty Images)
“Biden is telling us to accept as true that the bureaucracy is investigating the killer’s motives,” DeSantis wrote in an article in X. “But the federal government categorized the crazed leftist shooter in Congress as a ‘suicide cop,’ even though the shooter had a smart reputation. He documented left-leaning politics and made sure the players in the box were Republicans before he attacked.
“And he wants there to be an investigation related to the protection protocols used at Butler. The following question will have to be answered as temporarily as possible: how is it possible that someone, armed with a rifle, can climb onto a roof 150 meters from the crash site?” asked the Florida Array governor before accusing bureaucratic officials in Washington of almost never achieving accountability.
“Our country is in danger, because the ruling elite in Washington DC has consistently shirked duty for its failures,” he said.
Thomas Matthew Cooks, a worker at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, according to a spokesperson for the facility. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Numérique)
“This morning, Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation has been informed that Thomas Matthew Crooks, a nutritional assistant at the facility, is the suspected shooter in the attempted assassination of former President Trump,” said Marcie Grimm and the facility’s administrator. “We are shocked and saddened to be informed of your involvement as Thomas Matthew Crooks carried out his task without any worries and his background check was flawless.
“We are fully cooperating with the authorities at this time. Due to the ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further on details,” Grimm added. “Our minds and prayers are with former President Trump and the victims affected by this terrible tragedy. We condemn all acts of violence.
Fox News’ James Levinson contributed to this report.
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump gestures with a bloodied face as multiple gunshots rang out at a crusade rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, United States, July 13, 2024. (REUTERS/ Brendan McDermid)
The Washington Post reported Sunday that Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi revealed that the company relied on local police at the Trump rally in Butler to help complete some of its specialized coverage sets, such as the heavily counterattack organization navy that provided cover for the former president. . evacuated, along with counter-sniper organizations that located and killed the shooter.
Guglielmi told the Post that two of his counterattack officers were on scene and that the rest of the six-member platoons were made up of members of Butler County’s tactical units.
George Bivens, a lieutenant colonel with the Pennsylvania State Police, told reporters that local officials help provide VIP visits, though they follow instructions from the Secret Service.
President Joe Biden suggested others not to “make assumptions” about the Trump rally shooter’s “motives or affiliations” in his remarks Sunday afternoon.
“We don’t have data yet on the shooter’s motive,” Biden told reporters. “We know who he is. I urge everyone, everyone, not to make assumptions about their motives or affiliations. Let the FBI do its homework and your spouse agencies do their homework. “
Biden responded to reporters’ questions after the update.
Members of the United States Secret Service at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, Sunday, July 14, 2024. Former President Donald Trump has shown he will attend the Republican National Convention next week, hours after he shot and killed a crusader in Pennsylvania. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump issued the update around 2:09 p. m. on Sunday afternoon. In his message, he admitted that he planned to delay his appearance before the Republican National Committee due to the “terrible events of yesterday. “
“Based on the terrible events of yesterday, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin and the Republican National Convention for two days, but I just made the decision that I cannot allow a potential ‘shooter’ or assassin to force a schedule change. , or anything else,” the former president wrote.
“So I’ll be leaving for Milwaukee, as scheduled, TODAY at 3:30pm. Thanks! TDI[. ]”
Two minutes later, Trump posted a brief update that read, “UNITY OF AMERICA!” »
Nikki Haley accepted an invitation to speak at the Republican National Convention this week, a sign of unity as the country recovers from the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Haley served in the Trump administration but opposed him in the 2024 primary, becoming his chief rival in the race. It is unclear which day of the conference Haley will speak.
Increased security visibility around the site on Sunday.
“Multiple layers of security and perimeters to get in,” Fox News’ Bill Melugin posted early Sunday morning from the Fiserv forum in Milwaukee.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Kellianne Jones contributed to this report.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-MS, fired a staffer Sunday over a social media post in which he gave the impression of wishing the assassination attempt on former President Trump had succeeded.
The employee, Jacqueline Marsaw, wrote that the shooter had taken “shooting lessons” so he “wouldn’t get lost next time. “Thompson said he fired Marsaw’s job after being informed of the position.
“I don’t condone violence, but please take some shooting lessons so you don’t miss out next time, oops, that’s not me talking,” Marsaw wrote on Facebook.
“I found out about a posting made through a staff member and she is no longer contracted through me,” Thompson told Fox News.
Marsaw had applied as Thompson’s cash manager since July 2023. His workplace issued a certificate upon his hiring.
“Jacqueline is a member of the NAACP, where she has served as secretary, vice president and president,” he said. “Marsaw is a member of the Adams County Democratic Party and coordinates the Black History Parade. She is the former box director of the National Action Network. “
Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie contributed to this report.
President Biden has postponed a trip to Texas scheduled for Monday, the White House announced.
Biden was scheduled to travel to Austin for an event at the White House to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, with a stop at the LBJ Presidential Library.
The Texas event was an official White House event, not a military event.
It’s unclear that Biden’s campaign will reschedule a planned event in Nevada for later this week.
President Biden spoke from the Roosevelt Room of the White House at 1:30 p. m. after receiving an update briefing in the Situation Room from Homeland Security officials and law enforcement officials.
During his speech, Biden said he had directed the US Secret Service to provide Trump with “all resources, capabilities and protective measures to ensure his continued security. “
“Last night I spoke with Donald Trump. I am sincerely grateful that he is well and recovering. We had a brief but intelligent conversation. Jill and I keep him and his circle of family in our prayers. We also make our innermost selves bigger. “My deepest condolences to the relatives of the victim who killed. He is a father and protects his family members from the bullets that were fired, God loves him,” Biden said.
“We are also betting on the full recovery of those who have been injured. And we’re grateful to the Secret Service and other law enforcement officials and to the Americans who have literally risked their lives for our nation.
Biden called former President Trump after the attempt on Trump’s life. The White House said the call was good, brief and respectful.
The president previously condemned the shooting, calling the assassination attempt on a presidential candidate “sickening” and saying “there is no position in United States for this kind of violence. “
A guy who says he went to the best school with the killer, Thomas Matthew Crooks, described Crooks as a “loner” who was “intimidating. ”
Kohler said he knew Crooks but they were friends.
Kohler graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2021. Crooks later graduated in 2022.
James Levinson of Fox News contributed to this update.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday that he spoke with the wife of Corey Comperatore, a man killed Saturday when a gunman attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a rally in ButlerArray.
“Last night we lost a teammate from Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said at a news conference. “Corey Comperatore is a father daughter. Corey is a firefighter. Corey went to church every Sunday. Corey enjoyed his community, and especially Corey loves his family. Corey A strong supporter of the former president and very excited to be there last time. Night with him in the community.
“Last night in that meeting, Corey was the most productive of us. May his memory be a blessing. ”
Shapiro concluded his speech by noting that political disagreements “can never be resolved with violence. ”
“Disagreements are acceptable, but we will have to apply a nonviolent political procedure to those differences,” he said.
Lawmakers responded to the assassination of former President Trump with bipartisan condemnation and are now moving to call for “accountability” for the “security failure” at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Separately, New York Reps. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat, and Mike Lawler, a Republican, announced plans for a bipartisan bill that would provide enhanced Secret Service coverage to President Biden, Trump, and RFK Jr.
The gun used by Thomas Matthew Crooks in the attack on former President Trump was legally purchased through the suspect’s father, Fox News confirmed.
Authorities have recovered the weapon and relatives are cooperating with authorities, according to sources close to police.
A source said the circle of relatives had access to several firearms and that the government was investigating whether the suspect himself also had access to other weapons.
Fox News’ David Spunt contributed to this update.
Comperatore was a former Buffalo Township fire chief, local news station WPXI reported. He was shot and killed when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump from a sniper post about 130 yards from the campaign trail. Two other people were seriously injured in the attack, the government said.
Corey Comperatore (Allyson Comperatore/Facebook)
The victim’s sister, Dawn Comperatore Schafer, wrote on Facebook that Corey “was a hero to his daughters. ”
Scott McDonald of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
Authorities discovered explosive devices inside the vehicle of killer Thomas Matthew Crook, the Wall Street Journal (Fox News) reported.
Authorities discovered the car, driven by Thomas Matthew Crooks, parked near Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing other people briefed on the investigation.
The Journal said the government sent bomb technicians after police obtained several reports of suspicious packages near where the shooter was.
The criminals reportedly shot at Trump from a rooftop about 130 meters away from a rally in the small town, hitting the top of Trump’s right ear as the former president spoke to protesters before the Republican National Convention. next week in Milwaukee.
Danielle Wallace and Scott McDonald of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
U. S. Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin. (SAMUEL CORUM/AFP Getty Images)
“As President Lincoln said, a divided House opposed to itself stands firm. I’ve been saying this for some time, even if we don’t fix our debt and deficit problem, I think the biggest risk to United States right now is the fact that “We’re terribly divided,” Johnson told CNN anchor Jake Tapper Sunday morning on “State of the Union. ”
Asked about security measures at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Johnson said there was a “failure” and expressed confidence in the need for oversight hearings in Congress following a police investigation.
The Wisconsin lawmaker also said Trump “knew precisely the dangers he ran by running for office. ” But Trump did it anyway because he “loves this country,” Johnson said.
Johnson encouraged Americans to “resist” political outfits that “deliberately divide us for political advantage. ”
“Don’t let them get away with it and start talking to you. ”
Former first girlfriend Melania Trump issued a message following the attempted assassination of her husband, former President Trump, at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
“Thinking of you now, my fellow Americans,” Trump wrote. “We have been one union. America, the fabric of our sweet country is in tatters, but our courage and our common sense will have to rise and unite us into a country combined as one. ”
Melania Trump offered her “deepest condolences” to the other victims, adding to the circle of relatives of the user who died after being shot.
“Let us not assume that divergent opinions, policies, and political games are inferior to love. ”
Hours after the incident, Cohen told Fox News’ Trace Gallagher that if the former president hadn’t turned his head when he shot himself, he wouldn’t have survived.
“God must have watched the president from above,” he said.
“Snipers are trained to shoot in the cerebral cortex of the cerebellum, in the most sensitive part of the brainstem. It neutralizes you, prevents your hands from moving. . . That’s about the distance of the shot. One hundred and thirty meters. It’s a putt Anyone can place a two, two, 3 optic on a target at that distance and hitting is not a complicated shot. . . »
Taylor Penley of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Former President Donald Trump’s crusade has launched a GoFundMe to help victims and their families of the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally shooting.
One rally player was killed and two others were injured. The shooter was killed through the Secret Service. The names of the victims have not yet been released.
Lynne Patton, Trump’s senior adviser, shared the link to her Instagram story and social media users to donate.
The page, introduced through Meredith O’Rourke, Trump’s national campaign finance director, reads, “President Donald Trump has legalized this account as a place for donations to his supporters and families injured or killed in today’s brutal and horrific homicide. “It will be aimed at those proud Americans as they grieve and recover. May God bless and unite our nation.
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy donated $30,000 to the cause. Ivanka Trump and her spouse, Jared Kushner, donated $10,000 to the cause.
Thomas Matthew Crooks graduated from top school in 2022 (obtained via Fox News Digital).
Crooks, a 20-year-old from western Pennsylvania, allegedly shot Trump from a rooftop about 130 yards away at a rally in Butler, hitting the part of Trump’s right ear as the former president addressed rally attendees ahead of next week’s rally. National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The New York Post received photographs of Crooks from his main school yearbook and the 2022 graduation ceremony.
Photographs taken at the scene of Saturday’s shooting show the status of armed United States Secret Service agents through Crooks’ frame after the assassination attempt.
Scott McDonald of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Donald Trump Jr. said Sunday that his father would have died if Democrats had gotten Secret Service coverage of former President Trump.
“Remember that if @BennieGThompson and the Democrats had gotten what they wanted, my father would have died right now. Don’t let them empty your memory,” Trump Jr. posted in X.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. , former chairman of the congressional committee, now disbanded on Jan. 6, introduced the bill to eliminate Secret Service coverage for those convicted of a federal or state crime punishable by a minimum of one year in prison. prison.
The proposed bill is provocatively titled “Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources to Convicted and Extremely Disgraceful Former Protectees (DISGRAPHY) Act. ”
After former President Trump was shot and killed on Saturday, Thompson issued a statement condemning political violence.
“In American democracy there is no position for political violence. I am grateful for law enforcement’s reaction to this incident,” he said.
“I am satisfied that the former president is safe and my mind and prayers are with everyone involved. “
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this update.
Dozens of supporters of former President Trump rallied outside Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night after the Republican presidential nominee was shot and killed at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Fox News’ Danamarie McNicholl reported from Mar-a-Lago, where a “sea of red, white and blue supporters” were seen outside the Trump residence.
“I saw him with his fist raised, but he’s still there. God bless him,” said one woman. I don’t know if I just did it. What a brave and brave man. ”
Those gathered at Mar-a-Lago joined together to pray for the former president, who was treated for his injuries and is in “good spirits,” according to the Trump campaign.
The shooter, known as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, killed the authorities, but not before adopting a sniper stance and opening fire on Trump.
“We are strengthening the armed security presence with agents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additional security testing will be implemented. Our top priority is to ensure the protection of all members of this team,” wrote Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, senior officials. in the Trump crusade. in a memo to crusade staff.
“We also urge you to recognize the political polarization in these heated elections. If anything appears abnormal, please inform the control or security team on site. ”
The campaign expressed hope that Trump’s horrific assassination attempt “will bring our team, and even the nation, together in unity. “
LaCivita and Wiles also asked staff: “Please publicly comment on what happened today. We condemn all bureaucracy of violence and will tolerate harmful rhetoric on social media. “
“He’s now recovering from his injuries, it was definitely a traumatic occasion for him,” Brennan said in CBS News’ political special about the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. “But I saw that there was no call to lower the temperature, condemning all political violence and, in fact, seeking to sign his followers not to retaliate or participate in any escalation here.
In a message on Truth Social, Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for their “prompt response” to the shooting, in addition to offering his condolences to the other victims in the case. Another participant in the demonstration died and two others were seriously injured. , according to reports. The shooter was killed by the police.
Brennan also expressed fear Thursday that the shooting will prompt more violence.
“We need to make it clear that this is something that we’re reporting as a historic event as it unfolds, but we’re very aware that this type of event can motivate violence, it can motivate retaliation, and we don’t need to be a part of that,” he said. saying.
David Rutz of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
Crooks is a registered Republican, according to voting records, but he only participated in the Nov. 8, 2022, state election because of his age.
Records show he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a Chicago-based political action committee that supports Democratic applicants for public jobs and claims to protect “key Democratic districts — youth, minorities and low-income people. “President Biden’s inauguration day in 2021, January 20, 2021.
The FBI said it will continue its investigation into Crooks and any other information it can obtain.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone who has data that may assist in the investigation should submit photographs or videos online at FBI. gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI,” he continued.
Scott McDonald of Fox News Digital and David Spunt of Fox News contributed to this update.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the United States Secret Service, said Sunday that claims that Trump’s crusade sought greater security at his rally in Pennsylvania and that they had been denied were “absolutely false. ”
“The former president and the current president are the subject of risks. U. S. intelligenceThe U. S. Department of Homeland Security takes risks seriously and takes action based on those risks, when warranted. The U. S. Secret ServiceThe U. S. Department of Homeland Security constantly assesses the highly dynamic risk environment and reacts to the risks. exercise of their responsibilities. “
Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla. , made the accusation hours after Trump fired shots at his rally on Saturday.
“I have very reliable resources telling me that there have been repeated requests for increased Secret Service coverage for President Trump. Denied through Secretary Mayorkas,” Waltz wrote on X.
The House Homeland Security Committee plans to investigate reports that Trump denied enhanced Secret Service coverage ahead of the rally, a source told Fox News Digital.
One rally participant was killed and two others were wounded after a gunman opened fire on the former president’s election rally, according to a secret service statement. The shooter also killed.
David Spunt of Fox News and Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump runs out of a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County Prosecutor Richard Goldinger said the gunman died after wounding former U. S. President Donald Trump, killing one member of the public and wounding another in the shooting. (Photo via Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Former President Trump issued a new Sunday morning following the attempt on his life, thanking the country for its prayers.
“WE WILL NOT BE AFRAID, but we will continue to be resilient in our religion and defiant in the face of evil. Our love is directed to others who suffer and to their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly murdered.
“At this time, it is more vital than ever that we are in combination between countries and show our true character as Americans, staying strong and determined and not allowing evil to win. I actually love our country, I love everyone, and I look forward to speaking with our wonderful country this week from Wisconsin.
An eyewitness to the shooting at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania in an interview said he saw the shooter moments before the shooting broke out.
Greg Smith told the BBC that he and others saw the man “crawling” on the roof of a nearby building just outside the event in Butler.
He reported the alleged shooter to police.
“Obviously, we might see him with a rifle,” Smith said.
Video of the pickup posted on social media shows that other people saw the shooter, known as Thomas Matthew Crooks, moments before the shots rang out. People may be heard shouting, “He’s got a gun!” »
Another witness, Benjamin Shrader, told Fox News Digital that security at the rally was “terrible. ”
“I got to give all my details and security in the special guest segment and it was great,” he said. “But overall, for the event, security has been incredibly lax,” she said.
“There were just steel detectors, then a pat-down. That’s it,” he said. “There’s no one around the fences and someone may have thrown a gun there with no problem. “
The United States Secret Service (USSS) later said in a press release that the alleged shooter fired from a “high position,” killing at least one user and seriously injuring two others.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Matteo Cina of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
The assassination attempt, described by Fox News sources, on former President Trump at his Saturday rally in Pennsylvania sheds light on the process of keeping attendees safe.
Journalists and attendees in general are subject to a rigorous selection procedure controlled by the Secret Service, which includes detailed records upon entering a meeting place.
The Secret Service, when necessary, calls on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents from nearby cities to help with checks, but it’s unclear if that’s the case for Trump’s rally on Saturday.
When a demonstration is held outside, as was the case on Saturday, the Secret Service sets up tents, tables and magnetometers, something that is not unusual at giant events.
Trump, as a former president, still has a giant Secret Service, and any meetings with or near the president will have to be authorized. Traditionally, this is done with Social Security number, date of birth, and other important information.
Fox News Digital’s Brandon Gillespie and Fox News’ Mark Meredith contributed to this update.
US Senator J. D. Vance (R-OH) addresses the Turning Point Conservative Town Convention on June 16, 2024 at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan. (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP Getty Images)
Ohio Senator J. D. Vance, who is former President Trump’s running mate on the 2024 Republican ticket, has accused Biden’s campaign of inciting violence against Trump.
Vance wrote in a social media post that the attack on Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday “is not just an isolated incident. ”
“This rhetoric led to the attempted assassination of President Trump. “
Another possible Trump running mate, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S. C. , also said left-wing rhetoric was the shooting.
“Let’s be clear: this is an assassination attempt aided and abetted by the radical left and mainstream media calling Trump a risk to democracy, fascist or worse,” he wrote on social media.
The FBI is investigating the assassination attempt and has yet to reveal a possible motive.
US Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi issued a statement regarding the shooting at Trump’s rally on Saturday night.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this update.
The Secret Service tends to see Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, at a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County Prosecutor Richard Goldinger said the gunman died after wounding former US President Donald Trump, killing one member of the public and wounding another in the shooting. (Photo via Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Gunfire erupted at Trump’s rally shortly after the former president began speaking on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show.
The attack on the former president is being investigated as an assassination attempt, according to Fox News sources.
Trump posted a statement on his Truth Social account Saturday night.
“I received a bullet that went through the upper part of my right ear,” said the former president. “I immediately knew something was wrong, I heard a whistle, gunshots and I immediately felt the bullet tear at the skin. ”
The former president added that “there had been a lot of bleeding, so I found out what was happening. ”
“GOD BLESS AMERICA!” He said.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this update.
The gunmen reportedly shot Trump at a rally in the small town, hitting the part of Trump’s right ear as the former president spoke to protesters ahead of next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
One player was killed and two others were wounded in the incident, the firm said, and Crooks was shot. The victims have not yet been identified.
“The FBI has learned that Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is involved in the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the FBI said in a statement to Fox News Digital. Matrix “This is still an active and ongoing investigation. “
Crooks reportedly graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. He is one of two dozen students from the school who won a $500 “star prize” from the National Mathematics and Science Initiative.
A search through Fox News Digital that Crooks would have turned 21 in September. He had no criminal or traffic citations, no bankruptcies, liens or foreclosures.
Crooks is a registered Republican, according to voting records, but had only participated in the Nov. 8, 2022, statewide election because of his age. Voting records also don’t specify who a user is voting for.
The FBI says it will continue its investigation into Crooks and any data it can obtain.
Scott McDonald and Landon Mion of Fox News Digital contributed to this update.
The live show starts here.