UPDATE (July 14, 2024, 8:14 a.m. ET): This story has been updated to include the FBI’s identification of the gunman and former President Donald Trump’s statement Sunday morning.
Former President Donald Trump said a bullet “pierced” part of his right ear during a shooting at his campaign rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday, according to a statement he shared on Truth Social.
The statement was Trump’s first since the shooting, which happened around 6 p.m. earlier that night in a township near Butler, located roughly 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.
Read Trump’s statement in full below:
I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Secret Service agents “neutralized” the gunman, who had been positioned outside the rally venue, according to the Secret Service. The shooting left one rally attendee dead and two others critically injured, officials said.
The shooter was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, the FBI said. A motive was not clear. The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee released a joint statement hours after the shooting on Saturday confirming the Republican National Convention will proceed next week in Milwaukee. “President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States,” according to the joint statement. “As our party’s nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to Make America Great Again.” On Sunday morning, Trump shared another post on Truth Social addressing the assassination attempt: Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.
Hayley Miller is the senior breaking news and blogs editor for MS NOW.
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