(As of this date, this is the current information that is public)
Former US President Donald Trump had taken the stage 5 minutes before gunshots were heard in the crowd. Mass panic spread across the rally as people everywhere ducked and ran, Trump was surrounded and escorted away as secret service(s) returned fire. It was a sad day for the people of Butler, Pennsylvania, as two of the attendees were seriously injured and another passed away as a result of stray gunfire from the shooter.
The motivation of this attempt on the former President is currently still unknown. Trump suffered from an upper ear injury but was otherwise unharmed. After the shots were fired at the crowd, the secret service returned fire and the shooter was pronounced dead soon after. There is a video online that captured the shooter before and during the incident
Witnesses including local law enforcement officers noticed an individual on the outer edges of the rally, shouldering a big backpack and looking through a rangefinder towards roof tops from behind the stage. An image of the individual was circulated by officers that were stationed outside the perimeter. Later he was seen climbing up the side of a manufacturing building, and setting up a rifle on the rooftop.
There were some comments and theories that Trump’s ear was not hit by the actual bullet but perhaps something else; however the FBI did confirm after some time that it was indeed the bullet that hit his ear, whether whole or fragmented into pieces. After some examination it was also determined the position of the shooter, who was on the roof of an adjacent building, 410 feet away from the podium.
Despite not knowing the motivation for the individual to assassinate the former President, there has been talk about the possibility that the shooter’s mental illness had played a part in his actions. However, although he was never officially diagnosed with a mental illness, his search history included him searching for information about a major depressive order. The shooter used an AR-style rifle which authorities said was legally purchased by his father. With the shooter authorities found multiple loaded magazines and about 50 extra rounds, as well as a bulletproof vest in his car and other explosive devices at his home.
While Secret Services were escorting Trump away after the occurrence, a video captured several fans pumping their fists, and shouting “USA.”. Some fans were even making rude gestures in the direction of the media cameras.
There have been many arguments about the security failures during the rally. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatte resigned Tuesday July 16, three days after the incident on Saturday. And the day before she had appeared before a Congressional Committee and was rebuked by both Democrats and Republicans for security failures.
This investigation is ongoing, and the parents of the shooter are cooperating with authorities.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-congress-task-force-cd084a29e3a26da7eead4425e4064118
https://apnews.com/article/trump-bullet-shrapnel-ronny-jackson-christopher-wray-cb780b9d1a078f0be4191682e75101cf
https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-shooting-federal-investigation-2a90bdfd23ba9c3569cb9c29a459e87b
https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-what-happened-734900d303fcfbf349162047f8059601
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