Pennsylvania: After the bid on his life by the shooter, a bloody-faced Donald Trump was seen rushed off to safety by United States Secret Service agents. Despite his wounds, the former President was seen in a clenched fist. Later, he thanked Secret Service men who came to his rescue in the nick as the shooter was shot dead.
Trump said a bullet touched his ear before he was taken away. The video visuals saw screams tearing through the crowd and Trump grabbed at the side of his face and ducked down by security personnel during the shooting.
What was Trump doing and why?
Former President Donald Trump was in a campaign trail in Pennsylvania's Butler city, tucked away 590 kilometres west of New York City and 53km from the city of Pittsburgh. According to Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson of the US Secret Service, the incident happened around 6:15 pm local time when the suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.
US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. The US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and Former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured, he said, adding that this incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has notified the FBI.
Trump said nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. He was then attending an afternoon rally as part of his campaign ahead of the November 5 presidential election. He was about to announce his running mate for vice president, and was expected to make that call this week.
Horrific gunfire rings during mid-speech, What eyewitnesses say
Thousands of Trump supporters were attending the rally when the shooting, which was captured live on news channels, happened. As the bullet hit his ears, the former president was seen ducking with the secret service surrounding him. He could be heard making a few comments on an audio feed from the stage.
Trump said, Let me get my shoes, as he was escorted to the safe place. He was seen pumping his fist to the public. The shocking incident happened two days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump will formally become the party's nominee.
According to The Wall Street Journal, eyewitness Colleen Phillips (62) said she was about eight rows from the stage when she heard the sounds of gunfire. "We had a little prayer circle for President Trump," Phillips said. I don't know what's wrong with people.
Another eyewitness Mark McEvoy (50) said he thought he heard eight to 10 shots.
I saw Trump go down, but then I saw him get up and he raised his hand that he was OK, McEvoy told the Financial Daily.
Video of the attack shows Trump, wearing his signature red MAGA hat, speaking onstage to a crowd of hundreds. Mid-sentence, the former president stops speaking as a popping sound rings out and he grabs his right ear.
Supporters gathered behind him start to scream and duck for cover as more popping noises are heard.
Trump looks around him and then ducks behind the lectern as Secret Service agents can be heard shouting: "Get down, get down, get down."
The agents form a pile on top of Trump as more shots are heard and the crowd descends into screams.
It appears there is just two seconds from the first popping sound to the third. A fourth round of popping sounds rings out as more Secret Service agents run onstage and form a huddle before three heavily armed soldiers with assault rifles join them as they prepare to move Trump away.
'Hawkeyes are here'
Hawkeye, which is a special counter-assault team that's part of the Secret Service, which guards all former and current US presidents and their families, was at the venue.
The Secret Service said in a statement, "During former President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13 at around 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. The US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former President is safe and being evaluated."
Trump evacuated from scene, fist raised
The former president has a bloodied ear and cheek as he's lifted up by the circle of Secret Service agents. The crowd starts to cheer and clap as Trump stands, evidently relieved he appears not to be seriously injured.
The former president looks shaken, but as they are escorting him off stage he asks them to "wait" and puts a defiant first in the air to further screams and cheers from the people in the stands around him.
They erupt in a chant of "USA" as he's moved offstage in a huddle by his security detail, shaking his fist repeatedly. The agents bundle him towards a waiting black SUV parked to the side of the stage as people continue to cheer and scream.
Trump raises his fist again before he was whisked away with his team in the car.
Two dead but Trump 'fine'
Trump's campaign team put out a statement shortly after the incident saying that the former president was "fine" and that he was being given medical attention at a local facility.
"President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act," spokesperson Steven Cheung said.
The rally location has been declared an active crime scene as police evacuated people after the shooting. President Joe Biden said "there is no place in America for this kind of violence" in a press conference shortly after the incident. (With agency inputs)
