Former President Donald Trump was whisked off the stage by Secret Service on Saturday at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, after multiple rounds of gunfire could be heard.
The former president gestured to the crowd with a fist before being escorted off the stage. The Secret Service said in a statement that the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed.
The gunman was identified by the FBI early Sunday as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, according to multiple reports.
“US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased. US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated. One spectator was killed, two spectators critically injured,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement Saturday night.
WATCH:
WATCH: Video shows sniper’s reaction to assassination attempt on President Trump
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 14, 2024
“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,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social following the shooting. “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.”
The crowd member killed on Saturday evening at the rally is reported to be 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, according to family members on Facebook.
While attending Trump’s rally, Comperatore was fatally shot by Crooks, saving his two daughters in the process by diving onto them to shield the two from gunfire. Comperatore’s sister, wife and daughters posted tributes on Sunday to their loved one, who was a former volunteer fire chief of Buffalo Township, on social media.
“The PA Trump Rally claimed the life of my brother, Corey Comperatore. The hatred for one man took the life of the one man we loved the most,” Dawn Comperatore Schafer, Corey Comperatore’s sister, wrote on Facebook.
President Joe Biden condemned the violence on Saturday from Delaware. “Look, there’s no place in America— this kind of violence sick. It’s sick. It’s one reason why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. Cannot be like this,” Biden said.
“And so I want to thank the Secret Service and all the agencies, including the state agencies, and making sure that people— and we have more detail[s] to come relative to other injured, other people, maybe injured in the audience,” he continued.
Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro reacted to the shooting of the former president in his home state on Saturday. “Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States,” Shapiro said in an X Post.
TRUMP CAMPAIGN STATEMENT:
“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow.”
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) July 13, 2024
Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable.
It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.
I have been briefed on the situation. @PAStatePolice are on the scene in Butler County and working with our federal and local…
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 13, 2024
New: Republican Senate candidate David McCormick tells @FoxNews “someone behind me was hit.”
He says he could hear “seven or eight shots” and that there was ANOTHER WOUNDED VICTIM in the stands from behind where Trump was speaking. https://t.co/0Im9YOL6EV
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) July 13, 2024
Trump survived. God bless this man. pic.twitter.com/3d1hIIILul
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 13, 2024
Trump appears to be injured but fine. pic.twitter.com/Mv0fJkaYhO
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) July 13, 2024
President Trump thumbs-uped the crowd before he left. pic.twitter.com/I3OVPJvcw0
— Saurabh Sharma (@ssharmaUS) July 13, 2024
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