During former President Donald Trump’s event in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday night, bullets were fired and he was quickly taken backstage.
Trump said on social media that he was wounded after a bullet went through the top of his right ear.
The Secret Service says Trump is now safe after being checked out of a local hospital and leaving a few hours later. Trump Jr. told CBS News’ Robert Costa that his father was “doing well.”
The US Secret Service confirmed the deaths of the shooter and an audience member, with two bystanders seriously injured. State police said all of the shooting victims were men, but did not release their identities.
“U.S. Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased,” the service said. Reporters heard several gunshots as the Secret Service rushed the stage. In a video obtained by CBS News, Trump can be seen stroking his ear before squatting down.
His face was covered in blood. They sent a motorcade to take Trump away. He raised his fist as he got into the SUV.
In a statement released early Sunday morning, the FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, a small town west of Pittsburgh.
During an overnight press conference Saturday night, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, said the incident is being investigated as a possible “assassination,” though he declined to comment on a possible motive. The FBI is conducting the investigation with assistance from the Secret Service and state and local agencies.
Law enforcement officials told CBS News that the man fired an AR-style rifle from 200 to 300 feet away. Law enforcement officials said the shooter was located in a shed outside the Secret Service’s security cordon.
Rojek described the shooter’s ability to fire multiple shots as “surprising.” When reporters asked him about the details of the incident and the FBI investigation, he declined to answer. He said, “Suspicious packages were identified around where the shooter was, so we deployed the bombs very carefully to make sure they were removed for the investigators.” He made no mention of any such packages being found.
“Right now we’re following up on all the leads and conducting all the interviews and following up on anything we can regarding suspicious locations, vehicles … anything related to this event, but I can’t confirm or deny anything else,” Rojek said.
“It’s very challenging to have a place open to the public and secure it against any possible threat, against a very determined attacker,” Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said of the Secret Service.
Trying to achieve this is a tremendous boost.
No Secret Service officials attended a news conference Saturday night.
Earlier in the evening, Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi released a statement saying, “The Secret Service has put protective measures in place and the former president is safe.” The organization added more details in the following version:
“On July 13 at approximately 6:15 p.m. during a campaign rally for former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, a man suspected of possessing a gun began firing toward the stage from an elevated position outside the event. The shooter is no longer alive. Neutralized by U.S. Secret Service officials Because the U.S. Secret Service quickly put security measures in place, former President Trump is safe.
One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured.
This incident is still under investigation. And the Secret Service notified the FBI.”
The Trump campaign released a statement saying, “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their swift action during this heinous act. He is doing well and being evaluated at a neighboring medical facility. He was released from the hospital later Saturday night.
Trump explained what happened and his injuries in a Truth Social post-Saturday night: “I want to thank the United States Secret Service and the entire law enforcement community for their quick response to the tragic shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. First of all, I want to express my condolences to the family of the rally participant, who lost his life, and the family of another person who suffered serious injuries.
It is amazing that such an incident can happen in our country. We still don’t know anything about the now-deceased shooter. One of the bullets fired into me penetrated the top of my right ear. I knew something was wrong the moment I heard the shot, felt the bullet go into my flesh, and heard a hissing sound. When there was a lot of blood, I realized what was happening.
THANK YOU, America.
During Trump’s remarks at the event, New York Times photographer Doug Mills captured the moment a bullet whizzed past his head.
Pennsylvania Representative Mike Kelley, who watched Trump’s speech from backstage, told CBS News, “I think the lady that was next to me was hit, other people were hit.”
Several witnesses told CBS Pittsburgh reporters they saw the shooter on the roof and tried to call police before the shooting started.
“I was about five feet away from him, like I was in sight like I was that close,” another witness, Madison Brooks, told CBS News. “All of a sudden I hear these four shots and everyone’s yelling ‘drop’ and you can see blood splatter on his face. The only action the Secret Service took was to ban him. It was actually kind of scary.”
A blood-stained eyewitness who identified himself as an emergency room doctor performing CPR on a head injury patient was interviewed by CBS News campaign reporter Jake Rosen. “I heard gunshots. At first, I thought they were firecrackers,” he said. “Someone screamed and was shot.
Someone shot him. Then I stepped forward.
I said, “I’m an emergency room doctor.” Let me help you. The man turned and got stuck between the benches. Here he was shot in the head. There is a lot of blood and brain matter.
The victim’s helicopter was on its way, the man said. According to CBS Pittsburgh reporter Ricky Sayer, a medivac helicopter landed at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, and the patient was immediately taken to the hospital. The identity of the person and the circumstances are unclear. The transport helicopter landed shortly after several police cars were seen outside the hospital. This happened after a black SUV with police lights stopped next to the heliport.
The hospital later confirmed that two people were being treated for serious injuries.
The recent shooting incident at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania has raised significant concerns about safety and security at public events. As Trump addressed his supporters, gunfire rang out, resulting in chaos and panic among the crowd. The rapid response of the Secret Service, which neutralized the shooter, probably prevented another tragedy. But the event left a deep impact, with one spectator dead and two others seriously injured, underscoring the potential dangers that accompany high-profile political rallies.
Trump subsequently expressed gratitude for the swift action of law enforcement and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. His own wound, a bullet lodged in his ear, serves as a stark reminder of the violence that can erupt unexpectedly. The FBI-led investigation aims to uncover the motives behind the shooting while highlighting the challenges of keeping open spaces safe, especially against determined attackers.Â
The incident not only highlights the fragility of security during public events but also raises questions about the wider societal issues of gun violence and political extremism. As the investigation unfolds, it is critical that communities reflect on the consequences of such violence and work to create safer environments for political discourse. The effects of this shooting will resonate far beyond Butler, prompting discussions about security measures and the need for a collective response to prevent future tragedies.