11 months ago
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BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — The shooting astatine erstwhile President Donald Trump’s rally successful Pennsylvania is being investigated arsenic an attempted assassination of the erstwhile president and presumptive Republican nominee, instrumentality enforcement officials say. It was not instantly wide whether Trump was shot, but the erstwhile president's run rapidly said that helium was “fine.”
A section authoritative said the suspected gunman and astatine slightest 1 attendee are dead.
“President Trump acknowledgment instrumentality enforcement and archetypal responders for their speedy enactment during this heinous act,” spokesperson Steven Cheung said successful a statement. “He is good and is being checked retired astatine a section aesculapian facility. More details volition follow.”
The Secret Service said successful a connection that “the erstwhile President is safe.”
Two officials spoke to The Associated Press connected the information of anonymity to sermon the ongoing investigation. They said the shooter was not an attendee astatine the rally and was killed by U.S. Secret Service agents.
The officials said the shooter was engaged by members of the U.S. Secret Service counterassault squad and killed. The heavy equipped tactical squad travels everyplace with the president and large enactment nominees and is meant to face immoderate progressive threats portion different agents absorption connected safeguarding and evacuating the idiosyncratic astatine the halfway of protection.
Butler County territory lawyer Richard Goldinger said successful a telephone interrogation that the suspected gunman was dormant and astatine slightest 1 rally attendee was killed.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was showing disconnected a illustration of borderline crossing numbers during his past rally earlier the Republican National Convention opens Monday erstwhile the evident shots began.
As Trump was talking, a popping dependable was heard, and the erstwhile president enactment his close manus up to his close ear, arsenic radical successful the stands down him appeared to beryllium shocked.
As the archetypal popular rang out, Trump said, “Oh,” and grabbed his receptor arsenic 2 much pops could beryllium heard and helium crouched down. More shots are heard then.
Someone could beryllium heard saying adjacent the microphone astatine Trump’s lectern, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” arsenic agents tackled the erstwhile president. They piled atop him to shield him with their bodies, arsenic is their grooming protocol, arsenic different agents took up positions connected signifier to hunt for the threat.
Screams were heard successful the assemblage of respective 1000 people. A pistillate is heard screaming louder than the rest.Afterward, voices were heard saying “shooter’s down” respective times, earlier idiosyncratic asks “are we bully to move?” and “are we clear?” Then, idiosyncratic orders “Let’s move.” He could beryllium heard connected the video saying astatine slightest twice, “Let maine get my shoes, fto maine get my shoes,” with different dependable heard saying, “I’ve got you sir.”
Trump got to his feet moments aboriginal and could beryllium seen reaching with his close manus toward his face. There appeared to beryllium humor connected his face. He past pumped his fist successful the aerial and appeared to rima the connection “Fight” doubly his assemblage of supporters, prompting large cheers and past chants of “USA. USA. USA.”
The assemblage cheered arsenic helium got backmost up and pumped his fist.
His motorcade near the venue moments later. Video showed Trump turning backmost to the assemblage and raising a fist close earlier helium is enactment into a vehicle.
Police began vacating the fairgrounds soon aft Trump near the signifier successful what section officers described arsenic a transgression scene.
President Joe Biden was briefed connected the incident, the White House said. He received an updated briefing from Kimberly Cheatle, the manager of the United States Secretary Service, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House homeland information advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photograph connected X of Trump, his fist raised and his look bloody successful beforehand of an American flag, with the words: “He’ll ne'er halt warring to Save America."
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the 3 men connected Trump's shortlist for vice president, each rapidly sent retired statements expressing interest for the erstwhile president, with Rubio sharing an representation taken arsenic Trump was escorted disconnected signifier with his fist successful the aerial and a streak of humor connected his look on with the words “God protected President Trump.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said successful a connection connected X that helium had been briefed connected the concern and Pennsylvania authorities constabulary were connected manus astatine the rally site.
“Violence targeted astatine immoderate governmental enactment oregon governmental person is perfectly unacceptable. It has nary spot successful Pennsylvania oregon the United States,” helium said.
