Donald Trump's campaign says he is "fine" after what law enforcement officials are treating as an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Officials said the man who opened fire was a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania.
In a social media post, Trump said he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear." The former president was quickly whisked from the stage by Secret Service agents, his ear covered in blood.
A prosecutor said the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead, and the Secret Service said two spectators were critically injured.
President Joe Biden and political leaders of all stripes condemned the attack. "There's no place in America for this type of violence," Biden said. "It's sick. It's sick."
FBI identifies Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania and registered Republican, as 'subject involved' in Trump rally shooting
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the "subject involved" in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, it said in a statement on Sunday, says Reuters.
The AP, citing voter records, reported that Crooks was a registered Republican in Pennsylvania.
Crooks also donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, the same day President Biden was inaugurated into office, the AP reported citing campaign finance records.
FBI says it's 'surprising' the shooter was able to fire so many rounds
Asked if law enforcement did not know the shooter was on the roof until he began firing, Kevin Rojek, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Pittsburgh field office, responded, "that is our assessment at this time."
"It is surprising" that the shooter was able to get off as many rounds as were fired, Rojek said. He added that "all the details of that will come out later investigation."
Meanwhile State Police said the Secret Service was responsible for surveying the venue where the rally was held. Asked whether there was anything about the venue that made it particularly difficult to secure, Lt. Col. Bivens deferred to the Secret Service, which was not present at the news conference.
Bivens said he wouldn't speculate when asked "how close a call" it was for Trump.
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