Former President Donald Trump was injured but survived an apparent assassination attempt Saturday in which a gunman was shot dead and a Trump supporter was killed, at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
The chaotic scene unfolded as Mr. Trump was speaking on stage at the rally in Butler County, when the sound of multiple shots rang out. Secret Service agents swarmed around the presumptive Republican presidential nominee after he ducked behind his podium on the rally stage, clutching at his right ear.
The former president was carried off the stage, his ear bloodied and streaks of blood marking his face, pumping his fist and calling to the crowd as he was ushered into an SUV.
Mr. Trump, 78, is “safe” and “fine,” according to his campaign staff and U.S. Secret Service.
The shooter is dead and a rally attendee was killed, according to law enforcement.
Republican Senate candidate David McCormick told Fox News he had a front row seat at the rally, and heard a “number of shots.” He noted that there were seven or eight shots, and said that someone behind him was wounded.
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“There was a lot of blood, and the police came in and helped carry that person out of the stands so that they could get the care that they needed, I’m not sure if others were injured or not,” Mr. McCormick said.
The attempt on Mr. Trump’s life comes two days before the Republican National Convention is set to open on Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in an extraordinary turn of events that has upended an already volatile 2024 presidential race.
The Secret Service is conducting a criminal investigation and according to reports from witnesses, it appeared multiple shots were fired from a small-caliber weapon and other reports claim several rally-goers were injured.
The incident played out days before Mr. Trump was set to be crowned as his party’s nominee at the Republican National Convention and as President Biden’s struggles have heightened the fears among Democrats that despite their best efforts to slow him down Mr. Trump is in the driver’s seat.
The sounds of gunfire rang through the crowd, and the video shows Mr. Trump briefly reaching toward the side of his head before taking cover behind the podium.
The popping sounds of gunfire continued as Secret Service agents - amid cries from the crowd - rushed the stage, and someone could be heard shouting the instruction to “get down! get down! get down!”
“He is very lucky to be alive. It was a scary moment,” Mr. McCormick said.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said.
The Secret Service said Mr. Trump is “safe.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.