Story originally published Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 6:31 p.m. Updated Sunday, July 14, 2024, at 12:30 a.m. to add new information about the suspected shooter and victims.
BUTLER, PA (AP) — UPDATE, 7/14/2024, 12:30 a.m.: The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue. The assailant was a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. In a briefing early Sunday, the FBI said authorities were not prepared to release the identity of the shooter and had not yet found a motive in the assassination attempt.
Other than Trump, two people were critically injured and one was killed. State Police have identified the person killed and people injured but are not prepared to release names, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. All were adult males.
Trump said on social media that a bullet “pierced the upper part” of his right ear before agents whisked him off stage.
UPDATE, 10:53 p.m.: Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee say the party’s convention in Milwaukee will “proceed” on Monday despite the rally shooting.
“President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States,” said Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump in a statement.
The convention is set to open Monday.
UPDATE, 10:10 p.m.: Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation.
A prosecutor said the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead, and the Secret Service said two spectators were critically injured.
In a social media post, Trump said he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”
President Joe Biden and political leaders of all stripes condemned the attack. “There’s no place in America for this type of violence,” Biden said. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”
UPDATE, 9:24 p.m.: Multiple shots were fired toward the stage by a shooter at President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Secret Service said, leaving one spectator dead and two critically injured. The agency said the shooter fired from “an elevated position outside of the rally venue.”
Agents “neutralized” the shooter who is now dead. The agency repeated that Trump is “safe” and is being evaluated.
UPDATE, 8:50 p.m.: Vice President Harris said in a statement she has been briefed on the shooting at Trump’s rally, and that she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, are “relieved that he is not seriously injured.”
“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” said Harris.
“Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”
UPDATE, 8:29 p.m.: President Joe Biden spoke on what is now being called the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The president condemned the violence and said that he hopes he gets to speak to Trump tonight, and that, “I’ll get back to you if I do,” while addressing the press.
UPDATE, 8:13 p.m.: Donald Trump appears to be the target of an assassination attempt as he spoke during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, law enforcement officials said.
The attack, by a shooter who law enforcement officials say was then killed by the Secret Service, was the first attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. It comes amid a deeply polarized political atmosphere, just four months from the presidential elections and days before Trump is to be officially named the Republican nominee at his party’s convention.
The officials said the shooter was engaged by members of the U.S. Secret Service counterassault team and killed. The heavily armed tactical team travels everywhere with the president and major party nominees and is meant to confront any active threats while other agents focus on safeguarding and evacuating the person at the center of protection.
It’s still not clear yet whether Trump was struck by gunfire or was injured as he was pulled to the ground by agents.
UPDATE, 7:56 p.m.: The shooting at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, law enforcement officials say.
Two officials spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. They said the shooter was not an attendee at the rally and was killed by U.S. Secret Service agents.
Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview that the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed.
Trump was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens Monday when the shots began.
As Trump was talking, a popping sound was heard. Trump said, “Oh,” and put his right hand up to his right ear as people in the stands behind him appeared to be shocked. Two more pops could be quickly heard, and he crouched down.
Someone could be heard saying near the microphone at Trump’s lectern, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” as agents tackled the former president. They piled atop him to shield him with their bodies, as is their training protocol, as other agents took up positions on stage to search for the threat.
Screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage. He could be heard on the video saying at least twice, “Let me get my shoes, let me get my shoes,” with another voice heard saying, “I’ve got you sir.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has commented on the violence posting on X that he and his wife are praying for Trump and his family.
UPDATE, 7:41 p.m.: Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement that the former president was “fine” after a shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. A local prosecutor says the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead.
UPDATE: 7:14 p.m.: Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photo on X of Trump, his fist raised and his face bloody in front of an American flag, with the words: “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the three men on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Rubio sharing an image taken as Trump was escorted off stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face along with the words “God protected President Trump.”
UPDATE, 6:56 p.m.: Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement that he was “fine” after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
The Secret Service said in a statement that “the former President is safe.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a statement on X that he had been briefed on the situation and Pennsylvania state police were on hand at the rally site.
“Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” he said.
UPDATE, 6:44 p.m.: Donald Trump was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
The former president and presumptive Republican nominee was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens Monday when bangs started ringing through the crowd. Trump could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his neck. There appeared to be blood on his face.
He quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.
The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.
His motorcade has since left the venue. His condition was not immediately known.
Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage in what local officers described as a crime scene.
The U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies did not immediately respond to messages.
Leaving Mass in Rehoboth Beach, President Joe Biden simply responded, “No,” when asked if he’d been briefed about the incident.
House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, that he was praying for Trump.
This is a breaking news story. We’ll continue to update the story as we gather more information. Check back frequently.