Donald Trump Assassination Attempt: Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally just before his expected acceptance of the Republican nomination for a third time. Gunfire ended after a spectator and the shooter were killed, with two rallygoers seriously injured.
The assailant, not a rally attendee, aimed to eliminate the business tycoon-turned-politician from an elevated position but was killed by United States Secret Service agents in return fire. Law enforcement found an AR-style rifle at the scene.
The attacker reportedly fired shots from the roof of a building linked to AGR International, a manufacturing plant, less than 150 meters from the stage. Witnesses described panic and confusion at the rally.
“Everybody went to their knees or their prone position, because we all knew, everyone becoming aware of the fact this was gunfire,” Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania seated next to Trump on stage, Dave McCormick said.
He later noticed someone had been hit by a bullet behind the stage.
According to a man named Joseph cited to NBC News, a man next to him was struck in the head by a bullet.
“I heard several gunshots. The man beside me suffered a gunshot to the head, was instantly killed (and) fell to the bottom of the bleachers. Another woman looked like she got hit in the forearm or hand,” he said.
He further added that the victim was apparantly in the way between the gunman and the president.
An eyewitness told the BBC he saw the shooter climb onto the roof of a low-rise building just outside the security perimeter with a rifle. He yelled to nearby police officers to notify them of the potential danger.
“Secret Service blew his head off. They crawled up on the roof, they had their guns pointed at him, made sure he was dead, he was dead, and that was it, it was over,” he added.
Rico Elmore, the vice chairman of the Beaver County Republican Party who was sitting in a section for special guests, facing Trump, described the incident as “horror.”
When the initial shot rang out, Donald Trump instinctively held his right ear with his hand. Afterwards, he raised his fist defiantly as agents moved quickly to protect him. Trump was swiftly taken from the scene to an SUV.
Later, he remarked, “A bullet went through my right ear.”
