Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, leading to chaos as he was whisked away by the Secret Service while a former fire chief and the gunman lost their lives, with two others critically injured.
Analysis of videos and photos from the scene in Butler, Pennsylvania, revealed how close the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to get to the stage where Trump was addressing the crowd.
The timeline of the shooting unfolds as follows:
At 6:02 p.m. ET, Trump takes the stage for his rally speech, and around 6:10 p.m., chaos erupts as Crooks points his rifle at a law enforcement officer before opening fire, prompting Trump to take cover behind his lectern as Secret Service agents swarm the stage to shield him.
One minute after the shots, Trump, with blood on his face, stands up and gestures to the crowd, mouthing the word “fight” to loud cheers.
After two minutes, Trump raises a fist to the crowd before being escorted into a vehicle and taken to a local hospital, and by 6:50 p.m., the Secret Service confirms his safety.
At 8:42 p.m., Trump reveals on social media that he suffered an injury to his right ear, and around 12:10 a.m., he lands at Newark Liberty International Airport before heading to his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, for the night with a visible security presence.
The incident shocked the nation, illustrating the risks faced by public figures and the swift response of security personnel to protect them.
