Today, the US has witnessed another horrific shooting. This time, it was not some innocent child sitting on their front porch in Chicago, a classroom in Ulvade, TX, a Latina woman at a mall somewhere in the Southwest, or a block party victim celebrating a neighborhood honoree. It was an assassination attempt on Former President Trump while campaigning in Butler, PA.
The rally seemed to have a few hundred attendees when, at approximately 6:10 pm, Trump started addressing a video chart of dated illegal immigrant crossings, when a volley of 5-7 rounds was fired at Trump, presumably as a headshot (https://apnews.com/live/election-biden-trump-campaign-updates-07-13-2024). Evaluating the live and captured camera video, it looks like the shooter was on Trump’s right side at about 8 o’clock when the volleys nicked his right ear. Trump dodged for cover on the stage floor while the Secret Service rushed to protect him. After about 20 seconds, they move him off the stage into his bullet-proof security vehicle. Trump made a fist pump to the crowd, who actively responded. He was visibly shaken and near tears as far as can be ascertained.
Reportedly killed was a single bystander who was hit on the head by a live round and two other attendees with their status as unknown. The video did not show where these people were behind Trump on the bleachers behind him. The round that nicked Trump’s right ear should have continued to hit people behind his left shoulder, considering the shooter’s path and firing location. Luckily, the number of reported volleys does not equal the number of victims.
The FBI has identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, PA (https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/politics/trump-shooting-politics-analysis/index.html). He was reportedly killed by federal snipers located up on a rooftop to Trump’s right, about 70 yards away. However, the video does not fully corroborate this account. Perhaps over the next few hours, more verified information will be obtained from the FBI and local law enforcement. The shooter was reported to be a registered Republican 20 years of age, adding to the mystery of the situation.