Former President Donald Trump has issued a statement following a shooting incident at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. Trump himself sustained a minor injury during the attack.
“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 his statement on Sunday.
Expressing his condolences, Trump added, “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.”
The incident unfolded as Trump began his final rally before the Republican Party convention. Witnesses reported a series of loud bangs that sounded like gunshots, leading to chaos at the event.
John Yeykal, an attendee from Franklin, Pennsylvania, described the scene: “We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots; it sounded like between firecrackers and a small caliber handgun.”
Trump detailed his injury, stating, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong when I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
The Secret Service quickly escorted Trump off the stage and into an SUV. They later confirmed that the “former President is safe” and declared the area an active crime scene.
Trump’s statement revealed that the shooter is now dead, but added, “Nothing is known at this time about the shooter.”
Both President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama issued statements condemning the violence and wishing Trump a speedy recovery. Biden remarked, “There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.” Obama echoed this sentiment, stating, “There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.”
