Quick facts about Trump’s assassination attempt

• Published On: 14 July 2024 at 21:26

Former US President Donald Trump narrowly dodged an assassination attempt at a campaign event on Saturday, prompting security services to investigate how a gunman could target a former American leader.

Here's a detailed summary of the shooting in Pennsylvania, which killed one Trump supporter.

- How it unfolded.

Trump, dressed in a white shirt, navy blazer, and bright red MAGA cap, was speaking out against illegal immigration when bullets were fired at 6:08 p.m. (2208 GMT).


"Take a look at what happened…" he continued, but his remarks were interrupted by four gunfire.

Trump grasped his right ear as he heard repeated yells of "Get down!" followed by five and six shots.

The former president huddled below the lectern as Secret Service officials surrounded him. Screams were heard from the audience.


Within four seconds, further rounds were fired, leading more fans to evacuate while extra agents rushed to the stage.

Seventeen seconds after the first shots, a final pop was heard, followed by a lady screaming.

Three heavily armed members of the security forces entered the stage 22 seconds after the gunfire began.

Before lifting up a disheveled Trump, Secret Service officials quickly exchanged instructions such as "We're clear" and "Let's move".

Trump appeared again roughly one minute after the gunshots began, saying, "Let me get my shoes," as the agents formed a ring around him.

It takes another 13 seconds until Trump raises his fist to the crowd, which cheers.

As the former president was led off stage, his MAGA cap in hand, onlookers chanted, "USA!".


Trump paused briefly to pump his fist in the air before exiting the platform.

Just two minutes after the assassination attempt began, Trump raised his fist again and turned briefly towards the crowd before disappearing inside an SUV.

As the automobile pulled away, heavily armed security officers in khaki fatigues arrived on the scene.

- Trump claims 'felt the bullet' -

Trump posted his first report of the shooting at 8:42 p.m. on his Truth Social website.

"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump posted on Instagram.

"I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin."



"There is no place in America for this type of aggression. It's sick. "It's sick," Biden told reporters at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Biden's office said shortly before 10:30 p.m. that he had spoken with Trump and would cut short his beach weekend to return to Washington.

- The shooter is titled

According to US media, the FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

The FBI identified Crooks "as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump".

The Secret Service reported that the shooter "fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally" before being "neutralized" by agents.


Multiple witnesses reported seeing the gunman before the shooting and alerting authorities.

Ryan Knight, a Trump supporter, says he saw the attacker on a nearby building.

"When I was sitting there, a guy said: 'Oh God, he had a gun'," Knight told reporters.

Local police claimed they had "responded to a number of reports of suspicious activity" but did not provide any additional information.

According to US media, the attacker was armed with an AR-15 semiautomatic weapon.

Victims are

The gunman and a bystander were killed at the event, while two onlookers were gravely injured.


Two witnesses told the US media that they saw a man fatally shot in the head.

"The man beside me received a gunshot to the head and died instantly." Another woman appeared to have been hit in the forearm or hand, according to a man named Joseph who spoke with NBC News.

A second witness, who claimed to be an emergency doctor, stated that he went to help after hearing that someone had been shot.

"The person had twisted around and was stuck between the benches. "He had a headshot here," he stated, pointing to a location on his head, in comments extensively reported in US media.

"There's lots of blood, and he had brain matter," stated the man, who was dressed in a blood-stained white USA T-shirt.