MORE: Lehigh Valley political leaders recall '68 assassinations, call for cooling of campaign rhetoric
BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt Saturday at a Pennsylvania rally, days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. A barrage of gunfire set off panic, and a bloodied Trump was surrounded by Secret Service and hurried to his SUV as he pumped his fist in a show of defiance.
Posting on his Truth Social media site about two and a half hours after the shooting, Trump said a bullet “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,” the former president said in the post. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
The FBI early Sunday identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa. The agency said the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Secret Service agents fatally shot Crooks, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue, a farm show in Butler, the agency said.
The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
It came amid a deeply polarized political atmosphere, just four months from the presidential elections and days before Trump is to be officially named the Republican nominee at his party's convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Trump's campaign said the convention, set to begin Monday, would proceed as planned.
Trump flew to New Jersey after visiting a local Pennsylvania hospital, landing shortly after midnight at Newark Liberty International Airport. Video posted by an aide showed the former president deplaning his private jet flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter assault team, an unusually visible show of force by his protective detail.
The Secret Service said one spectator was killed and two were critically injured after an attacker fired "multiple shots" at Saturday's rally.
“All the sudden shots started to crack, someone behind me appears to have been shot. There’s lots of blood, and then the Secret Service were all over President Trump.”Dave McCormick, Republican U.S. Senate candidate who was in the front row at the rally
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. “He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
The former president was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens Monday when bangs started ringing through the crowd.
As the first pop rang out, Trump said, “Oh,” and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard and he crouched down.
Someone can be heard saying near the microphone at Trump’s lectern, “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” as agents tackled the former president.
Trump could later be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face. There appeared to be blood on his face.
He quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.
The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who was sitting in the front row, told Politico that it appeared someone behind him was shot.
“All the sudden shots started to crack, someone behind me appears to have been shot,” McCormick said. “There’s lots of blood, and then the Secret Service were all over President Trump.”
McCormick told CNN it sounded as if there were seven or eight shots from a small-caliber weapon.
"It was chaotic and confusing in the moment," he said.
The crowd cheered as Trump got back up from the riser floor and pumped his fist.
Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage in what local officers described as a crime scene.
State and local officials took to social media to immediately condemn the attack.
Reaction from Pa. political leaders
Gov. Josh Shapiro said he had been briefed by state police and was monitoring the situation. He called an attack on any political leader in Pennsylvania or America "absolutely unacceptable."
"Lori and I are praying for President Trump, the Secret Service officers who protected him, those attending the event, and all of the first responders still on the scene," Shapiro said in a social media post.
Said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.: "Political violence is never acceptable and I am hoping former president Trump & all attendees are safe," Casey tweeted on X. "Everyone in Butler should listen to law enforcement."
The Lehigh Valley's congresswoman, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, also reacted on X:
"I want to reiterate my strong condemnation of any and all violence in our political space. I'm wishing a swift recovery to President Trump and anyone affected today," said Wild, D-Lehigh Valley.
"Lori and I are praying for President Trump, the Secret Service officers who protected him, those attending the event, and all of the first responders still on the scene."Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican who introduced Trump when he held a rally in Schnecksville in April, was reportedly sitting near Trump in Butler when the attack took place.
"Please join me in praying for President Trump and all at the Butler Rally. God bless the USA," said Meuser, who represents the 9th Congressional District in northeast Pennsylvania.
President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident, the White House said.
Biden condemned the violence and said he had reached out in an attempt to speak with Trump.
"I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information," Biden said.
"Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photo on X of Trump, his fist raised and his face bloody in front of an American flag, with the words: “He’ll never stop fighting to Save America."
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the three men on Trump's shortlist for vice president, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Rubio sharing an image taken as Trump was escorted off stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face along with the words “God protected President Trump.”
Reporter Tom Shortell contributed to this report.