Former President Is Injured; Audience Member Was Killed and Two Were Critically Injured in Attempted Assassination
Butler, PA — July 13, 2024 — Donald Trump, the former president of the United States also, the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee for the 2024 presidential election, was shot in the upper right ear during a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. The FBI is investigating the incident. One audience member is dead and two others were critically injured.
Trump, 78, was addressing a crowd in Butler, a key battleground state for the upcoming November 5 election, when shots rang out. Witnesses reported seeing Trump duck to the ground before being surrounded by Secret Service personnel. Blood was seen on his right ear when he stood up. In spite of the injury, Trump raised his fist to the crowd and shouted, “Fight, Fight, Fight!” before taken to the hospital. Later he was released in stable condition. Trump had suffered no major injuries apart from a wound to his ear.
The shooter was identified as a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania named Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks, armed with an AR-15–style rifle, fired eight rounds from the roof of a nearby building. He was killed by a Secret Service Counter Assault Team sniper shortly after the attack.
Investigation and Community Reaction
The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, which has shocked the small Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park. Crooks, who worked in a local nursing home kitchen, was described by neighbors and former classmates as a quiet and unremarkable individual. Despite his low profile, he had a history of interest in guns, as evidenced by the Demolition Ranch T-shirt he was reportedly wearing at the time of the shooting. Law enforcement sources revealed that the rifle used in the attack was purchased by Crooks’ father.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent Kevin Rojek stated that the investigation could last for months, as authorities work to uncover any possible planning or accomplices. Initial reports indicate that Crooks acted alone, though the investigation is ongoing.
Victims and Community Support
The shooting resulted in the death of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, a volunteer fire chief who reportedly died while protecting his family. Two other audience members, both adult men, were critically injured.Trump campaign’s national finance director Meredith O’Rourke has raised over $340,000 for the families of the injured so far.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro praised Comperatore’s bravery. He called him a hero for his actions during the shooting. Bethel Park community is shocked for the incident. The residents are expressing disbelief that such violence could originate from their quiet neighborhood.
