A bloodied Donald Trump was rushed from the stage at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday after shots were fired.
Between four and a dozen gunshots were reported soon after Trump began speaking. One grazed Trump’s head, causing blood to run down his face. The former president immediately dropped to the ground and his Secret Service detail swarmed him, hoisting him from the ground and rushing him off stage to his motorcade.
One person at the rally was killed, the Butler County District Attorney told AP. Another spectator is in serious condition, according to CNN.
Secret Service agents killed the suspected shooter, who was outside the rally when the shots were fired, according to law enforcement officials.
The shooting is being considered an assassination attempt.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign said that he is “fine” and was “checked out a local medical facility.” The spokesperson added that Trump, “thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.”
The former president was just moments into his rally when loud pops were heard to the left of the stage. Before the event began, he complimented the size of the crowd, acknowledging the large number of people who showed up.
Trump turned his head in the direction of the sound and appeared to have been struck by something near his ear.
Live videos showed rallygoers appearing stunned, then screaming and running. The event was evacuated and was declared a crime scene.
A man, who identified himself as an ER doctor and appeared to have blood down his T-shirt, told CBS News he heard people shouting that ‘someone had been shot.’ He said he tried to save someone who was jammed between the benches.
Erin Autenreith told CBS that she was in the front row and heard four, “boom, boom, booms” and “immediately thought fireworks”.
She said Secret Service swarmed the stage and “the guys with the guns said ‘lift him’. So they lifted him clear up, and Trump said, ‘I got to get my shoes on’.
“He looked okay to me but I saw a little bit of blood right here, “ she added, pointing to the side of her face.
Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, said: “The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
President Joe Biden, who is in Delaware, was briefed on the situation and made a public statement.“There is no place in America for this kind of violence,” the president said. “It’s sick.”
Biden said that he hoped to speak with Trump over the phone.
Other current and former lawmakers, including former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, condemned “political violence” and sent well wishes to the former president.