JUST IN: A gunman and one audience member are dead after a shooting at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night, according to the local district attorney. Another spectator is in serious condition.
Trump was injured in the shooting, and he dropped to the ground and was swarmed by Secret Service agents after shots rang out while he spoke onstage. He had blood on his face as he was rushed away.
The Secret Service said Trump is safe and under protective measures. A spokesperson said Trump is “fine” after the “heinous act.”
The shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination, according to law enforcement officials.
The shooting came after a busy day of campaigning for both Trump and President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race. Biden said he’s “grateful” Trump is OK.
Secret Service agents have rushed former President Donald Trump off stage after what sounded like gunshots rang out at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Footage showed him grimace and raise a hand to his right ear, before ducking as sharp cracks – apparently shots – broke out.
He was quickly swarmed by secret service agents and rushed off stage to a waiting vehicle. He raised a fist as he was bundled into the car.
In a statement Trump’s campaign said he was “fine” and was being “checked out” at a local medical facility.
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said.
The former president appeared to have blood on his ear as protection officers led him away.
In a statement, the Secret Service said Trump was safe and that measures for his protection had been implemented.
They added that an active investigation was now under way and that further information would be released when available.
The Republican candidate for president had been addressing his supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania – a crucial swing state in November’s election.
Multiple bangs rang out as Trump spoke about his successor, President Joe Biden, and his administration.
Several supporters holding placards and standing behind Trump ducked as the apparent shots were heard.
One witness – Greg – told the BBC that he had spotted a suspicious-looking person “bear crawling” on a roof about five minutes before Trump started speaking. He said he pointed the person out to police.
“He had a rifle, we could clearly see him with a rifle,” he said. “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 did not know what was going on.”
Another witness, Jason, told the BBC that he heard five shots, which went off in quick succession.
“We see the Secret Service jump on Trump to protect him. Everyone in the crowd dropped down very quickly,” he said.
“He shortly thereafter stood up and put his fist up in the air, said a couple of things.”
Tim – who was also at the rally – told the BBC that he had heard a “barrage” of shots.
“There was a spray which we initially thought was a fire hose, and then the speaker on the right hand side started coming down,” he said.
“Something must have hit the hydraulic lines [which caused it to fall]. We saw President Trump go to the ground and everyone started dropping to the ground because it was chaos.”
The White House said President Biden, who is in his home state of Delaware, had received an initial briefing.
Politicians of both parties have condemned the apparent attack.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said “violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable”.
Former Vice-President Mike Pence said he and his wife were praying for Trump, adding that he urged “every American to join us”.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement: “My thoughts and prayers are with former President Trump. I am thankful for the decisive law enforcement response. America is a democracy. Political violence of any kind is never acceptable.”
I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024
They got the guy. Footage of Trumps potential shooter being dragged out of the rally by police pic.twitter.com/xnXbCQud9p
— The Blonde Broker (@theblondebroker) July 13, 2024
Biden: “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence”
President Joe Biden condemned the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally and said: “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence.”
“It’s sick, it’s one of the reasons we have to unite this country,” he said, speaking from Delaware. “We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this.”
Biden added that he’s tried to get in touch with Trump, noting that the former president is with his doctors and appears to be doing well.
