Shooting at Trump rally being investigated as assassination attempt

Former president Donald Trump, with blood on his ear, is whisked away from a campaign stage Saturday night following an apparent assassition attempt. AP photo.
By Associated Press
A shooting at Donald Trump‘s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, law enforcement officials say.

A shooter is dead and an attendee was killed. Trump’s campaign says he is “fine” after being whisked off the stage and is being checked out at a local medical facility.

Trump was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when a popping sound was heard, and the former president put his right hand up to his right ear. It’s still not clear yet whether Trump was struck by gunfire or was injured as he was pulled to the ground by agents.

Two officials spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. They said the shooter was not an attendee at the rally and was killed by U.S. Secret Service agents.

In a televised address, the president said “everybody must condemn” the attack, he is relieved that Trump is reportedly “doing well”. His campaign said it’s pausing all messaging to supporters and is working to pull down all of its television ads as quickly as possible.

Vice President Harris said in a statement she has been briefed on the shooting at Trump’s rally, and that she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, are “relieved that he is not seriously injured.”

“We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” said Harris.

“Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence.”

Another rally attendee was taken to the hospital, Butler County district attorney tells CNN

Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger told CNN that in addition to the spectator who was killed, another attendee was taken to a local hospital and in serious condition.

“The shooter is dead,” Goldinger said.

He said the shooter was outside the rally grounds, but he didn’t give additional information about where the shooter was.

“Quite frankly I don’t know how he would have gotten to the location where he was, but he was outside the grounds and I think that’s something that we’re going to have to figure out — how he got there,” Goldinger told CNN.