Former US President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13.
The shocking incident left Trump with a bloody face as he was seen clutching his ear in pain.
The Republican leader was delivering a speech to a large crowd when he was hit by a sniper’s bullet.
Secret Service agents acted swiftly, leading Trump to safety while he pumped his fist in defiance, despite his visible injuries.
Taking to his personal social media account later on, Trump confirmed that he had been shot in the “upper part of my right ear.”
The FBI has confirmed the incident as an assassination attempt, leading to the death of one person and critically injuring two others.
The suspected shooter was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The 20-year-old positioned himself on a roof near the rally site and opened fire on the former President. However, he was shot dead by Secret Service agents in retaliation.
President Joe Biden called the shooting “sick” and suspended campaigning for the next two days as a mark of respect.
Trump was rushed to hospital but has since been released and has left Pennsylvania. He assured his supporters that he was “fine” despite the harrowing experience.
The FBI has taken over the investigation into the incident, confirming Crooks’ identity through DNA analysis as he did not have any identification on him. An AR-15 rifle was reportedly recovered near his body.
Many politicians and celebrities have shown their support for Trump after the assassination attempt, condemning the violence and calling for unity in the face of such attacks. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., shared a photo of his father rallying his supporters with the caption, “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America.”
The nation is reeling from the shocking events in Butler, Pennsylvania, as authorities work to uncover the motives behind the attempted assassination of a former President.
