CROWDS flocked to the venue in the small town of Butler, regarding 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, on Saturday followingnoon to see former President Donald Trump campaign at his final rally before the Republican National Convention for the U.S. election.
The majority of Trump fans and voters in Butler who showed up wore red “Make America Great Again” hats. They wanted to hear Trump speak in person, braving the mid-July sun following waiting for hours.
Two and a half hours before Trump took the stage, rally attendees took part in a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem, sung by a 16-year-old. Attendees had to pass through metal detectors to enter the venue. That’s where one person caught the attention of authorities.
Thomas Matthew Crooks. The 20-year-old man said to be the Trump shooter was spotted by local law enforcement. He was acting suspiciously near a metal detector. Law enforcement radioed to other members to keep an eye out for him, and the information was also relayed to U.S. Secret Service agents.
String of Arms
Donald Trump was originally scheduled to take the stage around 5 p.m. local time, but he was late. It wasn’t until 6:02 p.m. that Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” began to play over the speakers and the former president walked up a short flight of stairs on the left side of the rally stage.
Trump wore a white shirt without a tie, a navy suit, and his signature red hat that read “Make American Great Again” circled the stage, clapping to the crowd and pointing to the various attendees sitting in front of him and in the stands behind him. Trump supporters waved “Trump 2024” signs with “Bad Joe, You’re Fired!” written across the back.
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At 6:05 p.m., the song ended and Trump took the podium in the middle of the stage. “USA! USA!” the crowd shouted.
“This is a beautiful, big crowd,” Trump said at the start of his speech.
Like every previous rally speech, Trump began by criticizing Biden, warning regarding immigrants coming across the US border, and vowing to win Pennsylvania in November’s US election.
The former president turned his attention to a statistical chart of the border displayed on a large screen over his right shoulder offstage. “Look at that chart,” Trump said, pointing to his right. Turning toward the building to the north, Crooks, holding an FR-type weapon on the roof of a building not far from the event location, prepared to take aim at Trump.
Crooks climbed to the roof of a one-story, light beige commercial building regarding 150 yards (130 meters) north of the stage. The open space where Trump will be speaking is surrounded by a fence. The building where Crooks is located is just outside the fence.
An eyewitness who was on the perimeter fence saw a gunman move up onto the roof moments before the shooting. There are several buildings in the complex. The eyewitness, Ben Macer, told the affiliate CNN KDKA that he went to alert an officer moments before the shooting began.
Also read: Identity of Donald Trump Shooter: 20-Year-Old Thomas Matthew Crooks
“When I turned around to go back to where I was, that’s when the gunshots started ringing out, and then there was chaos, and we were all running, and that’s it,” Macer said.
At 6:11 p.m., Trump had been in his speech for six minutes, looking to his right and looking at a screen displaying immigration statistics. “You know it’s a little old, that chart, that chart is months old,” Trump told the crowd.
“And if you want to see something that is sad,” Trump continued, “look at what happened…”
“Pop pop. Pop pop. Pop pop.”
Trump did not finish his sentence. Several gunshots were heard at the rally site. Trump clutched his ear and stepped back before dropping to the ground.
“Get down! Get down! Get down!” a male agent shouted at the former president. Five agents rushed the stage and shielded Trump on the floor.
Pop, pop, pop, pop.”
Another burst of gunfire was heard, this time in quick succession, five seconds following the first.
Twelve seconds later, a third round of gunfire echoed across the venue. Ready.” “Move!” “Up!” “Move, move, move.” Several agents shouted short commands in quick succession while remaining on top of Trump. Agents in combat gear and long-barreled rifles walked onto the stage. The audience screamed hysterically in fear at the barrage of gunfire.
Forty-three seconds following the first shots were fired, agents said the shooter was down. “The shooter is down. The shooter is down. Are we ready to move?” agents said.
“Let’s move, let’s move,” said a male agent.
Trump, with blood on his face and ears, stood up. He raised his fist defiantly to his supporters to let them know he was OK before agents led him off the stage and into his SUV.
At least three demonstrators were shot, one of whom was Corey Comperatore. He was shot dead while trying to protect his family during the shooting.
The other two people who were shot were David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74. Both are in stable condition following receiving treatment. (CNN/P-5)
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