The Secret Service has confirmed that the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump and killed at least one bystander was on a rooftop overlooking the event venue.
“During Former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13 at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. U.S. Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased,” the agency announced in a press release.
“U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and Former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured. This incident is currently under investigation. and the Secret Service has notified the FBI.”
Video from the scene appears to show the shooter dead on a nearby rooftop. Secret Service agents armed with rifles and tactical gear could be seen accessing the gunman’s body after he was killed.
🇺🇸 | The #shooter was on a rooftop approximately 125 meters (410 feet) from where #Trump was. pic.twitter.com/1tinB1X48g
— Breaking News (@PlanetReportHQ) July 13, 2024
Sent by law enforcement source
*ALLEGEDLY* body of Trump shooter pic.twitter.com/Z7YROjF2o3
— Dan Lyman (@realdanlyman) July 13, 2024
One eyewitness to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump claimed that he saw the shooter on a nearby rooftop moments before shots rang out. The man explained to a BBC reporter that he and other rallygoers attempted to alert law enforcement, though they were unsuccessful.
“So we walked up and probably five to seven minutes of Trump speaking, I’m estimating here, I have no idea. But we noticed a guy crawling, bear crawling up the roof of the building beside us, 50 feet away from us. So we’re standing there, we’re pointing at the guy crawling up the roof,” the man said.
The reporter then asked if it was clear that the suspected shooter was armed, which the bystander confirmed.
“He had a rifle. We could clearly see him with a rifle, absolutely. We’re pointing at him, the police are down there running around on the ground. We’re like, ‘hey man, there’s a guy on the roof with a rifle.’ And the police were like, huh, what? You know, like they didn’t know what was going on,” he said.
“You know, we’re like, hey, right here on the roof, we can see him from right here we see him you know he’s crawling and next thing you know I’m like, I’m thinking to myself, I’m like why is Trump still speaking? Why have they not pulled him off the stage? I’m standing there pointing at him for you know two, three minutes.”
Video from the side of the venue captured the moment Secret Service snipers reacted to the shooter.
Trump confirmed that his ear was struck by a bullet in a Truth Social post released shortly before 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump wrote.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.
Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.
I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.
I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.
Much bleeding took place, so l realized then what was happening.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Law enforcement has confirmed that at least one rallygoer was injured while at least one additional person was wounded.
A photo captured by Doug Mills of the New York Times shows a bullet flying just behind the former president’s head.
A remarkable photo captured by my former White House Press Corps colleague Doug Mills.
Zoom in right above President Trump’s shoulder and you’ll see a bullet flying in the air to the right of President Trump’s head following an attempted assassination. pic.twitter.com/FqmLBCytoW
— Haraz N. Ghanbari (@HarazGhanbari) July 14, 2024
Trending Politics News will continue to provide updates as they come in
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