Washington: Former US President Donald Trump was attempt to shot dead at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Cooks, was planted on the roof of a manufacturing plant located over 130 yards away from the stage at Butler Farm Show grounds. The US Secret Service snipers shot Cooks and an AR-style rifle was later recovered. Cooks’ motive behind firing on Trump is unclear. Trump was on stage at a campaign rally in Butler before gunshots rang out and Secret Service agents stormed the stage.
One spectator was killed and another was critically injured, and the incident is being investigated. Hours after the shooting, Trump said that the bullet pierced the upper part of his ear. In a statement posted on X, former President Trump has now left the Butler area under the protection of the US Secret Service and with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police. He expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers who responded to the incident, protected Trump, and worked to bring the situation under control.
The US Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of investigation. US President Joe Biden condemned the violent attack on Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (local time), saying that “there is no place in America for this kind of violence.” He described the attack as “sick” and emphasised the need for unity to prevent such incidents. Shortly after the shooting, the US Vice President shared a post on X, saying, “I have been briefed on the shooting at former President Trump’s event in Pennsylvania. Doug and I are relieved that he is not seriously injured.”
Harris also expressed gratitude to the US Secret Service for their swift response. She is grateful to the United States Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities for their immediate action, adding that “violence such as this has no place in our nation.”
