Washington DC, July 14 (AP): A shooting at Donald Trump‘s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, law enforcement officials say.
A shooter is dead and an attendee was killed. Two attendees are critically injured. Trump’s campaign says he is “fine” after being whisked off the stage and is being checked out at a local medical facility.
State Police have identified the person killed and people injured but are not prepared to release names, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said.
Other than Trump, two people were critically injured and one was killed. All were adult males.
Kevin Rojek, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Pittsburgh field office, said late Saturday: “Tonight we had what we’re calling an assassination attempt on our former president, Donald Trump.”
“We do not currently have an identified motive,” he added.
The FBI was not prepared to release the identity of the shooter, who died at the scene.
Rojek said they received no specific threats ahead of the shooting.
Speaker Mike Johnson says House will investigate
The Republican speaker said the House will conduct a full investigation of the attack, saying, “The American people deserve to know the truth.”
“We will have Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees ASAP,” Johnson said.
Biden speaks with Trump after apparent attempt on the Republican’s life
The White House said President Biden spoke with former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening.
No further details were provided on the call.
Biden will convene a briefing with homeland security and law enforcement officials at the White House on Sunday morning.
Trump campaign, RNC say convention in Milwaukee will ‘proceed’ after rally shooting, Trump looks forward to joining
Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee say the party’s convention in Milwaukee this week will “proceed” after the rally shooting.
“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,” said Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump in a statement.
The convention is set to open Monday.
US Secret Service agents ‘neutralized’ shooter
Multiple shots were fired toward the stage by a shooter at President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the U.S. Secret Service said, leaving one spectator dead and two critically injured. The agency said the shooter fired from “an elevated position outside of the rally venue.”
Agents “neutralized” the shooter who is now dead. The agency repeated that Trump is “safe” and is being evaluated.
