Assassination Attempt on Former President Donald TrumpAssassination Attempt on Former President Donald Trump On July 13, 2024, former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident unfolded as follows: 6:02 PM ET Trump took the stage and began his rally speech. Around 6:10 PM * Protesters noticed a man climbing onto the roof of a nearby building. * A police officer climbed onto the roof to confront the man. * The man, later identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, pointed a gun at the officer, who retreated. * Crooks fired rapidly at the stage. As the First Shots Rang Out * Trump reacted by raising his hand to his ear and quickly crouching behind the lectern. * Secret Service agents rushed to the podium and protected Trump. * Former fire chief Corey Comperatore was fatally shot while shielding his wife and daughter. * Secret Service snipers returned fire. About 1 Minute After the Shots * Trump stood up and reached for his face, which was covered in blood. * He pumped his fist towards the crowd and shouted “fight,” prompting chants of “USA.” About 2 Minutes After the Shots * Trump was escorted to a vehicle and taken to a local hospital. 6:50 PM * The Secret Service announced that Trump was safe. 8:42 PM * Trump posted on social media that he had been wounded in the ear. About 12:10 AM * Trump’s private jet landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. * Heavily armed Secret Service members and counter-assault team members escorted Trump to his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Aftermath The investigation is ongoing, and the motive for the assassination attempt is unknown. Two other individuals were seriously wounded in the shooting, and Comperatore’s death is being mourned by his family and community.
Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, sparking panic as the bloodied Trump was surrounded by Secret Service members and smuggled into his vehicle.
A former fire chief who was attending the rally with family was killed, as was the shooter. Two others were seriously wounded.
An AP analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from the scene of the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, as well as satellite images of the location, shows the shooter got astonishingly close to the podium where the former president spoke.
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Here’s what’s known so far about the timeline of the shooting.
6:02 PM ET
Trump takes the stage to the sounds of “God Bless the USA.” He waves to the cheering crowd and begins his customary rally speech, with spectators both in front of him and behind him on daisies.
Around 6:10 pm
— After protesters saw a man climbing onto the roof of a nearby building, a local police officer climbed to the roof, two police officers said.
— A man identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks points his gun at the agent, who runs down the ladder, officials said.
— Crooks then fires rapidly, according to officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
— Trump shows off border crossing numbers as gunfire begins.
— As the first pop rings out, Trump says, “Oh,” and he raises his hand to his right ear and looks at it, before quickly crouching to the floor behind his lectern.
— Secret Service agents rush to the podium and climb on top of the former president to protect him.
— Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former fire chief who attended the rally, is shot dead. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday that Comperatore used his body as a shield to protect his wife and daughter.
— Secret Service snipers return fire, firing at Crooks.
About 1 minute after the shots
— The video shows Trump standing up and reaching with his right hand to his face, which is smeared with blood.
—As Trump stands, he pumps his right fist toward the crowd.
— He appears to say the word “fight” loudly twice to his supporters, prompting loud cheers and then chants of “USA. USA. USA.”
About 2 minutes after the shots
Trump turns to the crowd and raises his fist in the air again, just before officers put him in a vehicle and take him to a local hospital.
6:50 pm
The Secret Service says “the former president is safe.”
20:42 hours
Trump posted on his social media site that he was wounded in the upper part of his right ear. “I knew right away something was wrong, I heard a whooshing sound, gunfire, and immediately felt the bullet rip through the skin,” he said.
About 12:10 pm
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Trump’s private jet lands at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Video posted by an aide showed the former president stepping off the plane flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter-assault team, an unusually visible display of power by his protective detail.
Trump travels to his private golf club in nearby Bedminster, New Jersey, for an overnight stay.
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Stengle contributed to this report from Dallas. Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report from Chicago and writer Colleen Long contributed to this report from Washington.
