With the November election approaching, the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has sent shockwaves through the nation.
Trump was addressing a crowd when loud noises erupted around 6:13 p.m. Videos show Trump clutching his ear and ducking to the ground as security agents rushed to his aid. Despite being struck in the right ear, Trump stood up with blood on his face, reportedly shouting “fight, fight” before being escorted from the stage. One spectator was killed, and at least two others were injured. Trump’s team and the Secret Service confirmed that he is “doing well” after being checked at a local medical facility.
Authorities have named 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the suspect. Crooks, who was killed by the Secret Service, was reportedly perched on a rooftop with an AR-15-style rifle. The FBI has taken over the investigation, treating it as an attempted assassination. The road to Crooks’ home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, has been closed off, and neighbours have been evacuated as police conduct a bomb investigation.
President Joe Biden emphasised that “there’s no place for this kind of violence” in the US.
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned about the fever pitch of political rhetoric in the US, urging for it to be toned down. Johnson pledged that the House of Representatives would conduct a full investigation into the attack, asserting that “the American people deserve to know the truth.”
The rally location remains an active crime scene. Trump later posted a statement on Truth Social, confirming he was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear. The FBI and Secret Service continue to investigate the motives behind the attack.
