Donald Trump assassination attempt: Here’s what we know

WASHINGTON (AP) — What began as a jubilant rally Saturday for Donald Trump days before he becomes the official Republican presidential nominee ended in mere minutes with the former president bloodied and a suspected would-be assassin shot dead by the Secret Service.

The FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism, and is focusing right now on gaining access to the shooter’s phone.

One spectator was killed and two others were critically injured in the shooting at the rally in Butler, Pa.

The slain spectator was identified Sunday as firefighter Corey Comperatore, who dove onto his family to protect them when the shooting started.

Comperatore was one of the thousands of people who attended the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, part of Trump’s 2024 reelection effort. He died trying to protect his family, according to the governor.

The attack shook the firmament of the American political system, causing a reassessment and a detente — at least temporarily — of the heated 2024 presidential campaign that has grown increasingly vicious.

The former president was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when the shots, at least five, were fired. Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Agents quickly created a shield around him. When he finally stood, his face bloodied, he pumped his fist to cheering ers. Trump and his motorcade left the scene and he was checked into a medical facility.

The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

Here’s a look at what we know so far:

What is Trump’s condition?

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, released a statement Saturday evening that Trump was fine and being looked at at a medical facility.

Trump also released a statement on his Truth Social platform thanking the Secret Service and all law enforcement.

“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he wrote. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

Trump also extended his condolences to the family of the person killed at the rally.

Trump flew to New Jersey after visiting the Pennsylvania hospital, landing shortly after midnight at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Trump said he’d travel to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Republican National Convention.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he was going to delay his trip after Saturday’s apparent assassination attempt, but decided he cannot “allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”

Who is handling the investigation?

The FBI is set to lead the investigation and said its working with the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle briefed President Joe Biden and are working with law enforcement partners to respond to and investigate the shooting, Mayorkas said on X.

“We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump, and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson also said the House will conduct a full investigation of the attack on Trump’s campaign rally. “The American people deserve to know the truth,” Johnson said. “We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP.”

What do we know about the shooter?

The FBI early Sunday identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa.

The FBI said Sunday it has not yet identified any underlying ideology or threatening writing or social media posts from Crooks, who graduated from high school two years ago and had no past criminal cases against him, according to public court records.

The FBI said it believes Crooks acted alone.

The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter, who fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue, a farm show.

The shooter had fired multiple shots from “an elevated position outside of the rally venue,” the U.S. Secret Service said in a statement.

Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity said the shooter was engaged by of the U.S. Secret Service counterassault team.

The heavily armed tactical team travels everywhere with the president and major party nominees and is meant to confront any active threats while other agents focus on safeguarding and evacuating the person at the center of protection.

Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to a person familiar with the matter. The gun was bought by Crooks’ father.

Explosive devices were also found in Crooks’ car and home.

Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on.” He said he would “wait until I talk to law enforcement” before speaking about his son.

What was the sequence of events?

6:02 p.m. EDT

• Trump takes the stage to the strains of “God Bless the U.S.A.” He waves at the cheering crowd and begins his regular rally speech, with spectators both in front of him and behind him on risers.

Around 6:10 p.m.

• After rally-goers notice a man climbing on the top of the roof of a nearby building, a local law enforcement officer climbs to the roof, according to two law enforcement officials.
• A man identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks points his rifle at the officer, who retreats down the ladder, the officials said.
• Crooks then quickly fires, according to the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
• As the first pop rings out, Trump says, “Oh.” He raises his hand to his right ear and looks at it before quickly crouching to the ground behind his lectern.
• Secret Service agents rush to the stage and pile atop the former president to shield him.
• Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former fire chief attending the rally, is shot and killed. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday that Comperatore used his body as a shield to protect his wife and daughter.
• Secret Service counter snipers fire back and shoot Crooks.

About a minute after the shots

• Video shows Trump getting to his feet and reaching with his right hand toward his face, which was smeared with blood. As Trump stands up, he pumps to the crowd with his right fist.

6:50 p.m.

• Secret Service says, “The former president is safe.”

Why was Trump in Butler?

Trump was holding his final rally ahead of the Republican National Convention that begins Monday in Milwaukee.

Pennsylvania is one of the most important states in the presidential race and Trump has had at least two rallies in the state this year so far.

The convention is slated to continue despite the shooting and Trump advisers said he looks forward to attending.

What has been the reaction to the shooting?

The overall response from both sides of the aisle was one of gratitude that Trump wasn’t hurt. President Joe Biden spoke in a press briefing roughly three hours after the shooting. He said “everybody must condemn” the suspected assassination attempt. He said he had been unable to reach Trump before his remarks but did speak to him several hours later, according to the White House.

“There’s no place in America for this type of violence,” the president said in public remarks. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”

PHOTO GALLERY:

Former lawmakers and presidents including Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as the foundation set up by 99-year-old President Jimmy Carter, were also appreciative that the outcome wasn’t worse.

Several of Trump’s fellow party sent well wishes and prayers. Trump’s possible running mates — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance — also sent statements.

Even as the motivation behind the shooting wasn’t clear, Vance and some other Republicans assigned blame to the Biden campaign’s anti-Trump rhetoric.

“Today is not just some isolated incident,” Vance wrote on X. “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

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