WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was hurt at a rally by an alleged shooter who has now died, according to US media on Saturday. According to The Washington Post, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger announced that two people—including the alleged shooter—are dead. A bystander was also killed.
It was reported by ABC News that Goldinger stated there was a possibility that another onlooker was also hit. A sequence of loud booms that sounded like gunshots interrupted the beginning of Saturday’s Pennsylvania campaign rally, and Secret Service officials hurried Trump off stage.
When the sounds continued, Trump winced and clenched his right ear, which was subsequently discovered to be bleeding.
Trump made a rebellious gesture to the crowd by raising his fist to the air as Secret Service agents swiftly surrounded the Republican candidate and removed him off stage. As the election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in November draws near, this concerning development adds to the nation’s already high level of anxiety about possible turmoil and political violence.
The Trump campaign declared that the president was “fine” and that he was being examined at a hospital. “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow,” stated spokesman Steven Cheung in a statement.
Trump made a rebellious gesture to the crowd by raising his fist to the air as Secret Service agents swiftly surrounded the Republican candidate and removed him off stage. As the election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in November draws near, this concerning development adds to the nation’s already high level of anxiety about possible turmoil and political violence.
The Trump campaign declared that the president was “fine” and that he was being examined at a hospital. “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow,” stated spokesman Steven Cheung in a statement.
The incident happened shortly before Trump stood on stage at his last campaign rally prior to next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Bangs were heard, and screams and shouting could be heard as the Butler, Pennsylvania, gathering turned into a wild scene.
Using a microphone, Trump was heard saying, “Let me get my shoes,” as security personnel assisted him in standing up again.
Later, as he raised his fist to the audience once more, they hustled the 78-year-old tycoon into an SUV. Secret Service agents warned reporters, “This is an active crime scene,” and gave them instructions to leave.
‘Horrified’
“I heard the shots. We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused,” Franklin, Pennsylvania resident John Yeykal remarked after attending his first Trump event.
The White House stated that Biden has been given an initial briefing of the event. It stated that the Secretary of Homeland Security and the director of the Secret Service briefed him.
