Wikipedia

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania

2024 shooting of Donald Trump and other victims in Butler County, Pennsylvania
This article is about the July 2024 assassination attempt. For the September 2024 assassination attempt, see Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida.

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump was on July 13, 2024. He is a former President of the United States. Thomas Matthew Crooks shot him during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.[1] People at the rally and in videos have shown that Trump was bleeding from his right ear after the shooting.[2] He put his fist into the air for a few seconds. He was quickly brought to a vehicle afterwards.[3][4] He was brought to the hospital.[5][6] The shooter and a spectator were killed. Trump and two others were injured.[7]

Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania
Diagram of the shooting
LocationButler Farm Show Grounds
Meridian near Butler, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°51′26″N 79°58′16″W / 40.8571223°N 79.9711779°W / 40.8571223; -79.9711779
DateJuly 13, 2024 (2024-07-13)
6:11 p.m. (EDT)
TargetDonald Trump
Attack type
Attempted assassination, mass shooting
WeaponAR-15–style rifle
Deaths2 (the perpetrator and a rally attendee)
Injured
3 (including Trump)
PerpetratorThomas Matthew Crooks

People at the rally and reporters said that multiple shots were fired.[8][9] New York Times photographer Doug Mills was at the rally. He reported that three to four gunshots were heard.[10]

The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt.[11][12] It is the first time a current or former U.S. president or presidential candidate has been shot since the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981.[11]

Aftermath

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United States Secret Service agents protected Trump as he raised his fist.[13] A spokesman for the Secret Service confirmed that "an incident occurred" and said that Trump was "safe."[14] According to campaign spokesman Steven Cheung, he was examined shortly at a local medical facility.[15] Security at Trump Tower has been increased by the New York City Police Department.[16] Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was cleared for Secret Service protection two days after the assassination attempt on Trump. Kennedy had previously requested Secret Service protection, but his request was denied by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Kennedy instead used a private security company for the duration of his presidential campaign.[17][18] The Trump campaign organized a GoFundMe fundraising campaign for rally attendees who were injured or killed, raising more than $2 million as of July 14.[19] The FBI is investigating with the National Security Division of the United States Department of Justice, the United States Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, may after the attempted 'assassination. The incident is being investigated as an attempted murder, and also as an act of domestic terrorism.[20] President Biden has ordered an independent investigation into federal security provided by the Secret Service to understand how the shooter nearly assassinated Trump in full transparency. The conclusions of this investigation will be made public. Additionally, Biden directed the Secret Service to re-evaluate all security protocols for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump was to be officially nominated as the Republican presidential candidate on November 5. The Secret Service acknowledges having rejected requests for additional federal resources requested by former President Donald Trump's security services since 2022.[21][22] On July 22, 2024, Kimberly Cheatle testified before the House Oversight Committee about the assassination attempt. During the hearing, she acknowledged it was "the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades" and faced a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers calling for her to resign. However, she pledged not to resign.[23]

Shooting

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The Trump rally where the shooting happened

The shooter hit at least four people with bullets. One was Donald Trump. One was Corey Comperatore, who died. He was 50 years old. He was a firefighter. When he heard the gunshots, he jumped on top of his family. The bullet hit him and not them.[24]

The shooter also hit two men who lived: David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. Both men are from Pennsylvania.[24] U.S. representative Ronny Jackson said a bullet had grazed his nephew's neck.[25]

Trump was shot in the upper right ear. He raised a hand to the ear before dropping down on the podium behind the lectern for cover.[26][27][28][29] Secret Service agents lunged toward Trump and shielded him. After about twenty-five seconds,[30] agents helped Trump get up, by which time blood was seen on Trump's ear and face, and he told Secret Service agents to "Let me get my shoes. Let me get my shoes." Trump then raised his fist and pumped it at the crowd while mouthing the word "fight", with the crowd responding with cheers and chants of "U-S-A!" He was then escorted to a vehicle and taken to a nearby hospital.[31]

Shooter

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The shooter was Thomas Matthew Crooks. He lived in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. That is about 43 miles from Butler, Pennsylvania. He was 20 years old. He was not old enough to vote in the 2020 United States presidential election. Still, he could have voted in state or local elections after he became 18 years old. Pennsylvania's voting records say Crooks was a member of the Republican Party, the same as Donald Trump. But Crooks also gave US$15 to ActBlue, a liberal group, when he was 17 years old.[32] The FBI said there was “no indication of mental health issues” regarding Crooks.[33]

Different people say different things about Crooks. Some people who went to school with him say he was quiet, and people bullied him. Some say he was smart and nice. As of July 2024, the FBI does not know why Crooks shot at the Trump rally.[32]

Before the shooting, Crooks had searched for images and public appearances of Trump and Joe Biden, as well as Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray.[32]

Investigators also discovered that a message attributed to him had been posted on the gaming platform Steam, saying "July 13th will be my first, see how it goes." » However, it is not yet clear whether the message was legitimate or not.[34]

Raised fist picture

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Photographer Evan Vucci of the Associated Press took images of a bloodied Trump pumping his fist in the air, surrounded by Secret Service members, and with an American flag in the background.[35] The photos quickly spread on social media and television and were widely shown by his most well known allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, his family members, and Republican members of Congress.[36] The image has been one of the most covered moments of the shooting.[37]

Responses

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Federal

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President Joe Biden's first remarks following the shooting
President Biden's address to the nation from the White House the day after the shooting

President Joe Biden was asked about this incident.[38]

Representative Ruben Gallego,[39] Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer,[40] and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro have made statements against political violence.

Businessman Elon Musk supported Trump after the shooting.[41]

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro denounced political violence.[42] Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries, said that he and his wife were praying for Trump.[43]

House Speaker Mike Johnson has pledged to open an investigation into the shooting, seeking testimony from federal law enforcement and national security officials. Republican senators have urged the Democratic-controlled Senate to also hold hearings.[44][45]

Donald Trump

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Donald Trump reacted with a long press release on his social network Truth Social. He thanked the speed of action of the security forces and sent his condolences to the family of the deceased, as well as his thoughts to those injured during the attack. He also expressed his feelings during the attack: "I immediately knew something was wrong when I heard a shrill noise, shots, and immediately felt the bullet pass through my skin."[46]

The Trump Campaign organized a GoFundMe fundraising campaign for the rally goers who were wounded or killed, raising over $2 million within twenty-four hours of the shooting.[47]

International

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Many political leaders, including Justin Trudeau of Canada, Javier Milei of Argentina, and Emmanuel Macron of France, condemned the shooting.[48][49][50]

References

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  1. ↑ Gold, Michael; Levien, Simon J. (July 13, 2024). "Live Election Updates: Trump Rushed Off Stage at Rally After What Sounded Like Shots". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ Meyer, Matt; Shelton, Shania; B. Powell, Tori (July 13, 2024). "Live updates: The latest on the 2024 campaign | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ Layne, Nathan; Mcdermid, Brendan; Mason, Jeff (July 13, 2024). "Trump shot in right ear at campaign rally, shooter dead". Reuters. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ Gold, Michael; Barnes, Julian E.; Levien, Simon J. (2024-07-13). "Live Updates: Trump 'Safe' After Shooting at Rally; Suspected Gunman Killed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
  5. ↑ Hayes, Christal. "Trump, with blood on face, raises fist in air". BBC. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Live updates: Trump says he was shot in the ear during rally; one attendee and shooter are dead". AP News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  7. ↑ Barnes, Julian E.; Gold, Michael; Levien, Simon J. (July 13, 2024). "Live Updates: Trump 'Safe' After Shooting at Rally; Suspect Killed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Gunshots reportedly fired at Donald Trump rally - as former president rushed off stage". Sky News.
  9. ↑ "Trump rushed off stage at Pennsylvania rally as loud noises heard". BBC.
  10. ↑ null (July 13, 2024). "Update from Maggie Haberman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Colvin, Jill (July 13, 2024). "Shooting at Trump rally is being investigated as assassination attempt, AP sources say". AP News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  12. ↑ Smith, David; Vargas, Ramon Antonio (July 13, 2024). "Trump rally shooting being investigated as suspected attempt on his life". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  13. ↑ Lawther, Fran (July 13, 2024). "Donald Trump rushed off stage at rally after sound of gunshots ring out – live updates". The Guardian. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ null (July 13, 2024). "Update from Michael Gold". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  15. ↑ Gold, Michael (July 13, 2024). "Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesman, said former President Donald J. Trump is "fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility."". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ Reid, Alecia (July 14, 2024). "Security increased at Trump Tower in NYC after Trump rally shooting in Pennsylvania". CBS. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  17. ↑ Murray, Connor (July 15, 2024). "RFK Jr. Will Receive Secret Service Protection Days After Trump Assassination Attempt". Forbes. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  18. ↑ Saric, Ivana (July 15, 2024). "RFK Jr. to get Secret Service protection after Trump rally shooting". axios.com. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  19. ↑ Fortinsky, Sarah (July 14, 2024). "Trump campaign GoFundMe for rally shooting victims raises more than $2M". thehill.com. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  20. ↑ FBI National Press Office (July 14, 2024). "Update on the FBI Investigation of the Attempted Assassination of Former President Donald Trump". fbi.gov. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  21. ↑ Nandita Bose, Steve Holland (July 14, 2024). "Biden orders review of Trump's security after rally shooting". reuters.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Maggie Haberman (July 21, 2024). "Secret Service Says It Denied Earlier Trump Requests for More Federal Resources". nytimes.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle faces grilling over Trump shooting". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Ernesto Londoño; Isabelle Taft; Christina Morales; Brian Conway (July 14, 2024). "A Father's Last Act: Shielding His Family From Gunshots". Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  25. ↑ McGraw, Meridith; Allison, Natalie (July 13, 2024). "Trump 'felt the bullet ripping through the skin' during campaign rally shooting". Politico. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Moment Trump shot at Pennsylvania rally before raising defiant fist in air". The Independent. July 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Trump wounded in assassination attempt. Biden calls it 'sick': Here's what we know". USA Today. July 14, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  28. ↑ Watson, Kathryn (July 13, 2024). "Trump says bullet 'pierced the upper part of my right ear' when shots were fired at Pennsylvania rally". CBS News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Gunshots reportedly fired at Donald Trump rally – as former president rushed off stage". Sky News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  30. ↑ Layne, Nathan; Larson, Soren (July 13, 2024). "Pop, pop, pop, then a bloodied Trump rushed from election rally". Reuters. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  31. ↑ Lawther, Fran (July 13, 2024). "Donald Trump rushed off stage at rally after sound of gunshots ring out – live updates". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 By Bernd Debusmann; Tom Bateman; Tom McArthur (July 14, 2024). "Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about the Trump attacker". BBC. Retrieved July 14, 2024. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "BBC" defined multiple times with different content
  33. ↑ Chad De Guzman (July 21, 2024). "What We Know—and Don't Know—So Far About the Trump Rally Gunman". Times. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  34. ↑ Aaron Katersky; Jack Date; Josh Margolin; Pierre Thomas; Kevin Shalvey (July 19, 2024). "Trump rally shooter's duffel bag and range finder first sparked suspicions, sources say". Trump rally shooter's duffel bag and range finder first sparked suspicions, sources say. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  35. ↑ Loh, Matthew (July 14, 2024). "The man who photographed a bloodied and defiant Trump says he 'knew it was a moment in American history that had to be documented'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  36. ↑ Solender, Andrew; Kight, Stef W. (July 13, 2024). "GOP lawmakers rally around image of bloodied Trump". Axios. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Bold and Bloodied Trump Seizes the Moment After Being Shot". Bloomberg. July 14, 2024.
  38. ↑ Rogers, Katie (July 13, 2024). "The president has received an initial briefing about what happened at the Trump rally, the White House says". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  39. ↑ Cameron, Chris (July 13, 2024). "Ruben Gallego, the leading Democratic Senate candidate in Arizona, denounced the apparent shooting as "absolutely horrible."". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  40. ↑ Vigdor, Neil (July 13, 2024). "Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a harsh critic of Donald J. Trump who was the target of a kidnapping plot, condemned the violence on Saturday". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  41. ↑ Cameron, Chris (July 13, 2024). "Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, publicly endorsed Donald Trump in a statement minutes after the shooting". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  42. ↑ Peter Orsi, Curtis Yee, Rebecca Santana, Lindsay Whitehurst (July 13, 2024). "Trump rally shooting live updates: FBI identifies suspect in assassination attempt". AP News. Retrieved July 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  43. ↑ Wink (July 13, 2024). "Florida politicians on Trump assassination attempt". winknews.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  44. ↑ Emily Brooks (July 13, 2024). "GOP lawmakers pledge investigations into Trump rally shooting". thehill.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  45. ↑ Andrew Solender (July 13, 2024). "House launches "full investigation" into Trump rally shooting". axios.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  46. ↑ Staff, Fox (July 13, 2024). "Donald Trump says he was shot at rally; thanks law enforcement for "rapid response"". fox10phoenix.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Trump campaign GoFundMe for rally shooting victims raises more than $2M". The Hill. July 14, 2024.
  48. ↑ Mangione, Kendra (July 14, 2024). "Horrific act': Shooting at Trump rally condemned by Trudeau, Poilievre". ctvnews.ca. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  49. ↑ Lavoz, Redacción (July 14, 2024). "Estados Unidos. La reacción de Javier Milei tras el ataque a Donald Trump: "Todo mi apoyo y solidaridad"". lavoz.com.ar. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  50. ↑ Huffpost (July 14, 2024). "Donald Trump visé par une tentative d'assassinat : Emmanuel Macron dénonce un « drame pour nos démocraties »". huffington post.fr. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
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