Former US President Donald Trump was shot and injured during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, in what authorities are investigating as an attempted assassination. The FBI has identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Pennsylvania, who was killed by Secret Service agents.Trump suffered a non-life-threatening injury to his right ear and was briefly hospitalized. He later described the incident on his Truth Social platform, stating, ‘I was hit in the upper part of my right ear and immediately knew something was wrong. I heard a hissing sound, shots, and felt the bullet pass through my skin’.The attack resulted in two fatalities: one rally attendee and the shooter. Two other attendees were critically injured. The Secret Service confirmed that the shots were fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue.Despite the injury, Trump was seen raising his fist in defiance as he was being evacuated. He has since been released from the hospital and is reported to be in good condition.The incident has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, occurring less than four months before the November 5 presidential election. President Joe Biden condemned the attack, stating, ‘There is no place in America for this kind of violence’. He expressed relief that Trump was safe and sent his well-wishes to Trump and his family.The shooting has raised questions about security measures at political events and the broader implications for the 2024 election campaign. Despite the attack, the Republican National Committee has stated that Trump will still attend the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Key points
- Former US President Donald Trump was shot and injured during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
- The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by Secret Service agents.
- The incident resulted in two fatalities and two critical injuries, raising concerns about political violence and security at campaign events.
- Despite the attack, Trump is expected to attend the upcoming Republican National Convention.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting reports about the shooter’s political affiliation.
Some sources state he was registered as a Republican, while others mention he had donated to a Democratic political action committee.
