President Trump survives assassination attempt at Pennsylvania rally

By Christina Faulkner

Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt Saturday, July 13, while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The rally took place days before Trump accepted the Republican nomination for the third time and named his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio.

Gunfire erupted during Trump's speech, just after 6:10 p.m., prompting him to lift his hand to the right side of his head as the first shot rang out. Secret Service agents quickly rushed onto the stage, shielding the President behind the podium. Spectators in the crowd could be heard yelling, “He’s got a gun!” as the shots rang out.

Initially, three shots were heard before a brief pause, followed by four rapid shots before the former President was escorted off the stage to an awaiting vehicle.

Trump, struck in the right ear by a bullet, emerged from the circle of agents to pump his fist and mouth the words, “fight, fight,” to the crowd, indicating he was okay despite the injury.

However, this was not the case for everyone. Blood was seen on the bleachers directly behind where Trump was speaking. Corey Comperatore, a retired firefighter from Sarver, PA, was killed while protecting his wife and daughter. Two others, David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, PA, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, PA, were critically injured but in stable condition on Sunday.

The gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was positioned just 164 yards from where Trump was speaking. Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene. Kevin Rojek, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, stated that law enforcement was unaware of the shooter until he began firing despite two sniper teams situated on buildings behind the stage with a clear line of sight to the building from which the shots were fired.

Crooks was able to fire several shots before secret service agents fatally shot him.

This attack marks the most serious attempt on a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

Despite the incident occurring less than four months before the presidential election, the attempt on Trump’s life has not deterred his campaign. After being treated at a local Pennsylvania hospital, Trump flew to New Jersey. A video posted by a Trump aide showed the President deplaning in Newark shortly after midnight, flanked by Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter-assault team.

In response to the assassination attempt, President Joe Biden said, “Violence has never been the answer. There’s no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence ever,” urging Americans to resolve their differences at the ballot box.

Trump traveled to Milwaukee on Sunday for the start of the Republican National Convention on Monday, remaining resolute in his pursuit of a second term.