A man attempted to kill Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
As shots were fired, the former president fell to the ground with his ear covered in blood and was quickly escorted off-stage by security personnel.
One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured in the attack.
The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service at the scene.
Here’s a timeline of the incident:
- 6:03 PM (11:03 PM UK Time): Mr. Trump took the stage at his campaign rally in Butler, a city about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. He waved to the crowd as “God Bless the USA” played and began speaking.
- 6:11 PM (11:11 PM): Multiple shots were fired toward the stage. Mr. Trump grabbed his ear and then fell to the ground. In footage of that moment, someone can be heard shouting “fire, fire, fire.”
- 6:12 PM (11:12 PM): Secret Service agents shielded the 78-year-old. “Are we good to move?” someone can be heard saying. Mr. Trump told the agents to wait while he raised a defiant fist to the crowd before being taken off the stage into a waiting armored car.
- 6:14 PM (11:14 PM): Mr. Trump’s motorcade left the event.
- 6:42 PM (11:42 PM): The Secret Service confirmed an incident at the rally and that Mr. Trump was safe.
- 7:03 PM (12:03 AM): Trump’s campaign team issued a statement confirming he was fine and being checked at a local medical facility.
- 7:10 PM (12:10 AM): Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger reported one man in the crowd had been killed in the incident.
- 7:28 PM (12:28 AM): The person believed to be the gunman was confirmed dead by Mr. Goldinger. He also confirmed an audience member had been killed, and another person was in critical condition.
- 7:50 PM (12:50 AM): Law enforcement officials informed the Associated Press that the shooting was being investigated as an assassination attempt.
- 7:55 PM (12:55 AM): President Joe Biden released a statement saying he had been briefed on the incident and was praying for Trump. “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,” he said. “We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
- 8:15 PM (1:15 AM): Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his shock and condemnation of the violence, stating that political violence has no place in society.
- 8:42 PM (1:42 AM): Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social site, saying he had been shot in the upper part of his right ear, causing significant bleeding. He thanked the Secret Service for their quick response and sent condolences to the family of the person killed at the rally. “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country,” he said.
- 9:02 PM (2:02 AM): The US Secret Service confirmed there had been multiple gunshots fired at the rally from outside the venue. The gunman was “neutralized,” and two spectators were critically injured.
- 9:27 PM (2:27 AM): An aerial photo emerged showing a building just 150 meters away from where Mr. Trump gave his speech, with a rifle and a body visible on the roof.
- 10:09 PM (3:09 AM): The White House announced that President Biden was returning to Washington from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
- 11:19 PM (4:19 AM): Mr. Trump left the Butler area under the protection of the Secret Service and state police, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said.
- 11:30 PM (4:30 AM): President Biden boarded Air Force One to return to Washington DC after speaking to Trump about the shooting.
- 11:41 PM (4:41 AM): NBC reported that the gunman had been identified as a male aged around 20 years old.
- 11:53 PM (4:53 AM): Law enforcement officials held a news conference, stating they were treating the incident as an assassination attempt against Mr. Trump. FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojeck said a motive had not been identified, and officials were close to confirming the gunman’s identity.
