Former US President Donald Trump was hurried off stage during a rally in Pennsylvania after gunshots rang out, leading to an apparent assassination attempt. The rally, held to support Trump’s ongoing political endeavors, descended into chaos as a series of sharp cracks – gunfire – erupted.
Footage from the event shows Trump grimace and raise his hand to his right ear before ducking in response to the gunfire. US Secret Service agents quickly swarmed him, rushing him off the stage and into a waiting vehicle. Despite the commotion, Trump managed to raise a fist as he was bundled into the car.
Trump later took to his Truth Social network to describe the incident. In a post, he revealed that a bullet had pierced the “upper part” of his right ear. His spokesperson earlier assured the public that Trump was “fine” and receiving treatment at a local medical center.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong when I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump wrote. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
Eyewitnesses reported seeing blood on Trump’s ear and face as protection officers swiftly escorted him away from the scene. The suspect, who was armed with a rifle and had fired from an elevated structure a few hundred meters away from the venue, was shot dead by US Secret Service agents. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, confirmed that one bystander was killed in the shooting and two others were critically injured.
Law enforcement sources, speaking to CBS News, indicated that the male attacker had planned the attack meticulously, choosing an elevated vantage point outside the venue to fire at the former president. The authorities are treating the incident as an assassination attempt.
Mr. Guglielmi reassured the public that Trump was safe and that stringent measures for his protection had been implemented. He also confirmed that an active investigation is underway to uncover the motives and details behind the attack.
The incident has sparked a wave of reactions across the political spectrum, with many expressing relief at Trump’s safety and concern over the escalating threats faced by public figures. As the investigation continues, further details are expected to emerge, shedding light on this alarming episode in the ongoing saga of Donald Trump’s political career.
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