Former President Trump wounded, nearly killed in assassination attempt; sniper dead

[bonnie1962]

Former President Trump wounded, nearly killed in assassination attempt; sniper dead

By 

Social Links forPatrick Reilly and

 

Social Links forJoe Marino

Published July 13, 2024

 Updated July 13, 2024, 7:54 p.m. ET

 

Former President Donald Trump was wounded on a Pennsylvania campaign stage by a sniper’s bullet Saturday night in an apparent assassination attempt that nearly claimed his life, law enforcement sources told The Post.

The shooter was killed by a Secret Service assault team, and one other person — believed to be a civilian — was also killed, sources said.

The Secret Service said that Trump is safe, and a campaign spokesperson said he is fine, and being checked out at a local medical facility.

Following the attack on Trump at a rally in Butler — about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh — nine shots rang out and Trump ducked for cover before being surrounded by Secret Service agents, video from the event shows.

Early reports suggest that a sniper on a roof of a building outside the rally took aim at Trump, according to law enforcement sources, witnesses and video posted to social media.

 

 

One Trump supporter told the BBC that he spotted an apparent sniper armed with a rifle on the roof of a building outside the security perimeter of the rally.

The reported witness said he and friends, who were hosting a party outside the rally, watched the man open fire.

Video that is reportedly from the scene shows the gunman dead on the roof of a warehouse, with Trump supporters gathered around.

 

[phkrause]

That's really sad! 🙏 for all those affected in this stupid shooting!!

[phkrause]

First Photo of 20-Year-Old Local Pennsylvania Man Who Tried to Assassinate Ex-President Trump; Thomas Matthew Crooks ID’d as Gunman

This is the madman who tried to assassinate former president Donald Trump .

https://local.newsbreak.com/butler-pa/3527765911098-first-photo-of-20-year-old-local-pennsylvania-man-who-tried-to-assassinate-ex-president-trump-thomas-matthew-crooks-idd-as-gunman?

Trump says he was shot in ear at Pennsylvania rally; shooter killed

Former President Donald Trump says he was shot in the upper part of his right ear on Saturday during a rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

https://local.newsbreak.com/butler-pa/3527523414590-trump-says-he-was-shot-in-ear-at-pennsylvania-rally-shooter-killed?

[phkrause]

⚡ Breaking ... Former President Trump posts at 7:36 a.m. ET from his golf club in Bedminster, N.J.:

Via Truth Social

[phkrause]

Trump rally shooting live updates: FBI identifies suspect in apparent assassination attempt

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. The FBI identified a 20 year-old man as the suspected shooter. State police have also identified the person at the rally who was killed and two people who were critically injured — all adult males — but didn’t release names. Read more.

[phkrause]

America plays with fire

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The assassination attempt on former President Trump was shocking — but not surprising, Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write in a Behind the Curtain column. Why it matters: Everything in America has turned political. Everything political turned visceral. And everything visceral turned into the possibility of unspeakable violence like this. Everyone sees it, feels it, predicts it. Some actively agitate for it on social media and TV. Now, we have it. Again. And again. And again. Intelligence officials privately warn of more to come. We've watched it build from a lunatic shooting a member of Congress in the head, to the bullets sprayed at members of Congress playing ball, to the brutality and violence on Jan. 6, to a crazed man pounding to near-death the husband of Nancy Pelosi. And now a bullet was just inches from killing Trump. The reaction by so many, so fast shows why lowering the temperature seems so implausible. Within moments, prominent Republicans blamed President Biden, the Secret Service, the media. Prominent Democrats blamed Trump's own violent rhetoric for an attempt on his own life. Reversing this trend toward verbal and actual violence requires clear-eyed views of some of its root causes: Everything is politics. Politics has seeped into, well, everything: where we worship, what we drive, where we live, where we shop, and what we drink, the books we read, the words we ban. The result: this puts more people in more settings on edge. Everyone gets sucked into it. Politics use to be mostly boring and largely confined to political professionals and enthusiasts. Now, everyone gets sucked in: CEOs (Elon Musk), investors (David Sacks and Reid Hoffman), actors (George Clooney), sports stars (Aaron Rodgers). Social media's bombast bias. The loudest, most provocative, most bellicose voices echo loudest on most social media platforms. It's the quickest way to fans, followers and fame. It seduces people to say and write things they might muffle or calibrate in person or with more words. Read X in moments since the shooting — it's often horrifying and gross. Visceral vs. academic. Politics are no longer fought on the academic terms of the 1990s and 2000s: higher taxes vs. lower taxes, lighter vs. heavier regulation, more military spending vs. less. Now it's about our identity: our patriotism, our values, our feelings and emotions. So attacks feel personal, not policy-centric. Existential. Both sides frame this election as not one fight for one four-year term, but a battle for America and humanity. People don't threaten civil wars over COLA adjustments for Social Security recipients. They do to save the nation and our species. The end result: More violence. For the past year, top government officials have been telling us domestic violence is a clear and present danger to America, especially after the election. They see this in social media chatter, phone threats to members of Congress and candidates, and Homeland Security data. And now in the near-murder of a presidential candidate.

[phkrause]

Biden Oval Office address

Tonight's Oval Office address, the third of his presidency, gives President Biden the opportunity to be the consoler-in-chief.

Why it matters: Biden is likely to use his address to call for unity and ask Americans to lower the partisan temperature in the country, as he did in earlier remarks today in the Roosevelt Room.

• Biden said he and Trump had a "short but good" conversation last night.
• "I am sincerely grateful he is doing well," Biden said.

Between the lines: The Oval Office address also allows Biden to focus the nation's attention on something other than his disastrous debate performance, which has led many of his fellow Democrats to call for him to step down.

• The president and his top advisers have been looking for moments to help Biden rehabilitate his image and demonstrate in words and deeds that he's up to running the country — and running for president.

[phkrause]

Shooter's elusive motive

Screenshot: MSNBC Few conclusive details have emerged about the life and beliefs of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old man who tried to assassinate former President Trump. FBI officials said yesterday that they're combing Crooks' background and social media activities, while working to get access to his phone. Investigators believe Crooks acted alone in the attack on Trump, which killed at least one spectator and left two others critically injured. FBI agent Kevin Rojek told reporters that the gun used in the attempted assassination of Trump, in which the shooter also died, was an "AR-style 556 rifle" that was bought legally. Crooks tried out for his school's rifle team in suburban Pittsburgh, but was turned away because he was "such a comically bad shot." He was a member of a local gun club. Go deeper: Congress to grill Secret Service.

[phkrause]

🚨 What to know today

As the FBI begins investigating the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, there are heightened concerns on Capitol Hill.

Why it matters: The shooting at the Pennsylvania rally, in which Trump was struck in his right ear, comes against the backdrop of a steady rise in threats against members of Congress.

• House Republicans were receiving a security briefing on Sunday afternoon, while House Democrats will have one today, sources tell Axios.

What we're hearing: Several members of Congress told Axios they plan to cancel events and close or restrict their campaign and congressional offices in response to the shooting.

• One House Democrat said their office will be "appointment only" for the next few days.
• A House Republican said their staff is taking "precautions" at events, while another said they're "reeling" from the shooting and "discussing with our security advisers on how to proceed."

The latest: The suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, "was a lone actor," top FBI official Robert Wells told reporters yesterday.

• Wells confirmed the FBI was investigating the incident as both an "assassination attempt," and a "potential domestic terrorism act," according to reporters on the call.
• President Biden emphasized the need to "lower the temperature in our politics" during an Oval Office address last night.
• "Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy, it's part of human nature," Biden said. "But politics must never be a literal battlefield and God forbid a killing field."

Lawmakers are scrutinizing the Secret Service — how someone with a semiautomatic rifle scaled a roof 140 yards from where Trump was speaking, the Washington Post reports.

Read our latest coverage

[phkrause]

Muted response from most FL Republicans to Trump assassination attempt

Florida’s Republican leadership offered a mostly restrained response to Saturday’s assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump, although U.S. Sen. Rick Scott called for swift Senate hearings into how it was allowed to happen.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/07/14/muted-response-from-most-fl-republicans-to-trump-assassination-attempt/?

[phkrause]

FBI, DHS warn of possible retaliation for attack on Trump

U.S. authorities are concerned about possible attacks in retaliation to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security said Monday in a rare joint intelligence bulletin.

https://local.newsbreak.com/pennsylvania-state/3529647042426-fbi-dhs-warn-of-possible-retaliation-for-attack-on-trump?

Local cop confronted would-be Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks on roof moments before he opened fire, but failed to stop him

A local cop spotted attempted-assassin Thomas Crooks just moments before he tried to kill former president Donald Trump — but failed to stop the gunman despite the clear threat, according to a report.

https://local.newsbreak.com/butler-pa/3528281826244-local-cop-confronted-would-be-trump-assassin-thomas-matthew-crooks-on-roof-moments-before-he-opened-fire-but-failed-to-stop-him?

Former classmate describes Trump rally gunman as ‘definitely conservative’

As mystery continues surrounding the possible motivations of the 20-year-old Pennsylvania man accused of trying to kill Donald Trump at a campaign rally, a former classmate of his came forward to describe him as “definitely conservative” when they were in school together.

https://local.newsbreak.com/pennsylvania-state/3528960447381-former-classmate-describes-trump-rally-gunman-as-definitely-conservative?

[phkrause]

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are concerned about the potential for violent "follow-on or retaliatory attacks" in response to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the agencies said in a joint intelligence bulletin. "Individuals in some online communities" have threatened or encouraged violence in the wake of Saturday's shooting, according to the bulletin. Authorities are still searching for the shooter's motive and have not identified any co-conspirators. Meanwhile, Trump has continued his campaign efforts amid the ongoing probe. He is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, while his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is set to address the convention later today.

[phkrause]

Trump rally gunman purportedly left message on gaming platform before shooting

Investigators working to determine a motive behind the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump are examining a message left on a gaming platform site purported to have been authored by the suspect, according to multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the probe.

https://local.newsbreak.com/butler-pa/3532426408816-trump-rally-gunman-purportedly-left-message-on-gaming-platform-before-shooting?

Investigators now believe account on gaming site in would-be assassin’s name is fake

Investigators now believe that the Steam account in the name of the man who shot at former President Donald Trump over the weekend is fake, a US official briefed on the matter told CNN.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/18/politics/thomas-matthew-crooks-steam

[phkrause]

‘One screen, two movies': Conflicting conspiracy theories emerge from the Trump rally shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former president is wounded in a shooting, the gunman quickly neutralized, and all of it is caught on camera. But for those who don’t believe their eyes, that’s just the start of the story.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-x-biden-misinformation-bf345b7cd72cc8c243084fe6ba8fa53a?

[phkrause]

Rally shooter had photos of Trump, Biden and other US officials on his phone, AP sources say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The 20-year-old Pennsylvania man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump had photos on his phone of the former Republican president, President Joe Biden and other officials, including Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Chris Wray, according to two people familiar with the matter.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-shooting-federal-investigation-2a90bdfd23ba9c3569cb9c29a459e87b?

[phkrause]

After Some Trial and Error, FBI Cracks Trump Shooter's Samsung Phone

The FBI unlocked the phone belonging to the man who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump using technology from Cellebrite, an Israeli digital forensics firm. But internal documents suggest that the effectiveness of the company's technology varies and may not work with iPhones running the newest versions of iOS.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/after-some-trial-and-error-fbi-cracks-trump-shooters-samsung-phone?

[phkrause]

Gunman flew drone over Trump rally

Graphic: AP The gunman who tried to assassinate former President Trump is believed to have flown a drone around the rally site before the event in an apparent attempt to map the layout, a law enforcement official told AP. The drone has been recovered by the FBI, which is leading the investigation into the shooting by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

[phkrause]

Officers left post to go look for Trump rally gunman before shooting, state police boss says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two local law enforcement officers stationed in the complex of buildings where a gunman opened fire at former President Donald Trump left to go search for the man before the shooting, the head of Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday, raising questions about whether a key post was left unattended as the shooter climbed onto a roof.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-secret-service-pennsylvania-2f887d537c34a798019c6f430dcdbfb1?

[phkrause]

Trump rally gunman looked online for information about Kennedy assassination, FBI director says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is believed to have done a Google search one week before the shooting of “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday, revealing new details about a suspect he said had taken a keen interest in public figures but had otherwise not left behind clear clues of an ideological motive.

https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-assassination-attempt-shooting-f1ff0a636f3e2e1a28762c400852167e?

FBI head says Trump gunman researched JFK assassination before shooting

A search of a laptop linked to the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Trump earlier this month revealed he had searched for information on John F. Kennedy's assassination before the shooting, FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers on Wednesday.

https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/trump-assassination-fbi-wray-gunman-drone?

[phkrause]

Grassley releases bodycam videos of Trump assassination attempt

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley released additional videos and documents Thursday related to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/07/25/grassley-releases-bodycam-videos-of-trump-assassination-attempt/?

[phkrause]

Why Won’t Authorities Release 911 Recordings From Trump Rally Shooting?

The Intercept has appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records to obtain emergency dispatch calls from the July 13 Trump rally.

https://theintercept.com/2024/07/27/trump-rally-shooting-911-calls-pennsylvania/?

[phkrause]

Trump agrees to be interviewed as part of an investigation into his assassination attempt, FBI says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has agreed to be interviewed by the FBI as part of an investigation into his attempted assassination in Pennsylvania earlier this month, a special agent said on Monday in disclosing how the gunman prior to the shooting had researched mass attacks and explosive devices.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-9c3838fcf9753b3e61caf97804112fca?

ps:Of course he does! He has nothing to hide!!!!!

[phkrause]

Acting Secret Service director says he’s ‘ashamed’ after the Trump assassination attempt

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Secret Service’s acting director told lawmakers Tuesday that he considered it indefensible that the roof used by the gunman in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump was unsecured and said it was regrettable that local law enforcement had not alerted his agency before the shooting that an armed subject had been spotted on a nearby roof.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-secret-service-a382e3ec081dd13e85eaa9e726cca02c?

"What I saw made me ashamed," Secret Service head says of Trump rally security

Secret Service snipers and former President Trump's security detail didn't know there was a gunman on a nearby roof at the Butler, Pa., rally until shots were fired, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe told lawmakers Tuesday.

https://www.axios.com/2024/07/30/secret-service-trump-shooting-security-failures?

[phkrause]

📊 Americans blame politics for Trump shooting

Data: AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research; Chart: Axios Visuals A majority of Republicans, Democrats and independents all agree that political polarization played at least a moderate role in the assassination attempt against former President Trump, according to a new AP/NORC poll. Most Democrats said some blame for the shooting lies with the way Republicans talk about politics, while most Republicans said some blame lies with the way Democrats talk about politics. 👎 Americans also held the Secret Service responsible, and just 31% now say they're extremely confident the Secret Service can protect candidates from violence before the election.   Few Americans trust the Secret Service after a gunman nearly killed Trump, an AP-NORC poll finds Most Americans have doubts about the Secret Service’s ability to keep presidential candidates safe after last month’s attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life, a new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds. https://apnews.com/article/secret-service-trump-assassination-attempt-e5ef28f72d61080088a0835a1b9a7d39?

[phkrause]

Body camera footage shows local police anger at Secret Service after Trump assassination attempt

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the chaotic aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally last month, a local police officer told a fellow officer he had warned the Secret Service days earlier that the building where the 20-year-old gunman opened fire needed to be secured.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-secret-service-pennsylvania-c1c5c68e55ae3cfb69ef886894e508ad?