A man fired “multiple shots” toward the stage during former President Donald J. Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa., on Saturday at around 6:15 p.m., killing one spectator and critically injuring two others, according to the Secret Service.
Mr. Trump was rushed off the stage, blood visible around his right ear. He later said in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform, that he had been “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.” Mr. Trump was taken to a hospital, and the Secret Service said he was “safe.”
“This evening we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump,” Kevin Rojek, a special agent at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said during a news conference at the Butler Township Police Department. An analysis by The New York Times suggested that the gunman had fired eight shots.
The Secret Service said its personnel had killed the shooter. In a statement, the F.B.I. identified the man as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa. The authorities said they were still trying to uncover his motive.
Here’s what we know about the shooting.
The Former President
Mr. Trump ducked quickly after the shots began and as members of the crowd began to scream. Secret Service agents then rushed Mr. Trump off the stage. As he was escorted to his motorcade, Mr. Trump, whose face and right ear were bloodied, pumped his fist in a defiant gesture to the crowd.
transcript
Trump Rushed Off Stage at Rally
Former President Donald J. Trump was escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents and into his motorcade just minutes into a rally after a series of shots rang out.
“If you want to really see something that’s sad, take a look at what happened over —” [gunshots] “Get down, get down, get down, get down.” [gunshots] “I got you, sir, I got you, sir.” “Let me get my shoes on.” “Hold that on your head, it’s bloody.” “Sir, we’ve got to move to the cars.” “Watch out.” “Wait, wait, wait, wait.” [crowd cheering] [crowd] “U.S.A. U.S.A.”
