Donald Trump rally: FBI investigates shooting in Pennsylvania as assassination, shooter and bystander dead

BUTLER, Pennsylvania — Former President Donald Trump said he was shot in the ear after a gunman opened fire on the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday – a harrowing incident that left one audience member dead, two others seriously injured and sparked chaos at the event.

Officials briefed on the investigation told ABC News that the shooting – a disturbing development on the eve of the Republican National Convention – is being investigated as an attempted murder and that live ammunition appears to have been fired from outside the security perimeter. The incident is being investigated by the FBI under the supervision of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh and comes at a time of heightened threat.

LIVE UPDATES | After a possible assassination attempt, Trump stormed off the stage at a rally

The Secret Service said in a statement that a gunman “fired multiple shots at the stage from an elevated position outside the venue,” after which agents “neutralized the shooter, who is now dead.”

The gunman fired up to eight shots from an AR-style rifle while sitting on a rooftop adjacent to the venue and was 180 to 275 yards away at the time of the shooting, law enforcement sources told ABC News.

One bystander was killed and two others were seriously injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The FBI believes it has identified the shooter, although it is not releasing his name because of the sensitivity of the investigation, a law enforcement source said. Initial indications suggest the shooter was a lone gunman, but the situation is unclear, the source said.

As Trump was led off the stage, his right ear appeared to be bleeding and he could be seen mouthing the word “fight” and clenching his fist.

A Trump spokesman said in a statement: “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick response during this heinous act. He is doing well and is being evaluated at a local medical facility.”

In a statement on Truth Social posted hours after the shooting, Trump said he was “struck by a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”

“I knew immediately that something was wrong because I heard a hissing sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet pierce my skin. There was severe bleeding and that’s when I realized what was happening,” he wrote in the post, expressing his condolences to the family of the slain protester.

“It is unbelievable that something like this can happen in our country,” he added.

Great support

The incident sent shockwaves throughout politics, sparking condemnation but also a wave of support on both sides.

President Joe Biden called the incident “sick” and said “there is no place for this kind of violence in America.”

“We cannot be like this. We cannot tolerate this.”

And Vice President Kamala Harris said she was “relieved that he is not seriously injured.”

“Violence like this has no place in our country,” he added. “We must all condemn this heinous act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to further violence.”

Donald Trump Jr. told ABC News he had spoken to his father, who remains hospitalized. He said his father was “in good spirits” as he continued to be monitored, adding that his father would “never stop.”

PHOTOS: Shots fired at Trump rally in Pennsylvania

“This is the fighter America needs!” Trump’s son Eric wrote in a post on X, attaching a photo of his father’s fist raised in the air.

And Trump’s daughter Ivanka called the shooting “senseless” and wrote on X: “I love you, daddy.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence said on X that he was “praying for President Trump and urging all Americans to join us.”

In a statement, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro said: “We strongly condemn this violence and commend the Secret Service for its swift action today.”

Ohio State Senator JD Vance, who is on the shortlist for Trump’s possible vice presidential nomination, blamed President Biden for the incident without elaborating or providing evidence.

“Today is not just an isolated incident,” Vance wrote on X. “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. This rhetoric led directly to the assassination of President Trump.”

In a statement on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson vowed a “full investigation into today’s tragic events.”

“People started to panic”

Trump was speaking to the crowd about immigration when bangs were heard and chaos broke out. The former president could be seen clutching his ear before lying on the ground and being surrounded and shielded by Secret Service agents.

Dave McCormick, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, told ABC News he was standing in the front row of the rally and heard “seven or eight” shots.

“People panicked,” he said. “Everyone fell to the ground.”

Witness Leonard Verdetto said everyone at the rally was “happy,” but then he heard “banging noises” and described six to eight shots being fired.

“None of us really understood at the time that all these people were shouting ‘Down!’ ‘Down!'”

“We all prayed… We prayed to him to protect us and keep us safe.”

Another witness, Rico Elmore, a speaker at the event, said he was about 20 feet away from Trump at the time. He said he initially thought the shots were “fireworks.”

“I turned around and someone was yelling ‘paramedic.'” He then took off his tie and jumped into action, realizing the paramedics wouldn’t get there in time. But by the time he got there, he said, it was too late. “The person… was bleeding from the head.”

He said, “I tried to close the wound” by holding a towel over it until the medical team arrived.

“All I saw was the bullets hitting the stands and bouncing up,” added witness John Dohanich. He said there was a burst of gunfire, followed by a pause and then the rest of the shots.

“I hear everyone screaming, ‘Get down! Get down!'” and he said he tried to help people get down. “I told them to just keep praying and stay calm.”

In the wake of the incident, Trump was quickly escorted off the stage with blood on his ear and the side of his face, clenching his fist on stage, and was helped into a vehicle to be taken away.

Heavily armed security guards entered the stage as he was escorted out.

“On the evening of July 13, an incident occurred at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania,” the Secret Service said in a statement. “The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is currently an active Secret Service investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available.”

A White House statement said: “The President has received an initial briefing on the incident at former President Trump’s rally.”

Following the shooting, there was a heavy police presence outside Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Violence “absolutely unacceptable”

“Violence against any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,” Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro said in a statement. “It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States.”

Ohio Senator JD Vance, a possible candidate for vice president, wrote on social media: “Please join me in praying for our President Trump and everyone who attended this rally. I hope everyone is well.”

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a possible candidate for vice president, posted on X calling for prayers for the former president.

“Please join Kathryn and me in praying for President Trump, his family and everyone attending the rally today.”

Another vice presidential candidate, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, also posted on X asking for prayers for Trump and those attending the rally.

“I am praying for President Trump and everyone attending the rally in Pennsylvania today.”

“ATF is responding to assist the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement partners. This is a top priority. We have no further comment at this time,” ATF said in a statement.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.