The suspected shooter who wounded Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally is dead, US media reported Saturday, along with one bystander.
"Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said two people are dead, including an apparent shooter," The Washington Post reported.
ABC News cited Goldinger as saying a second bystander may also
have been hit. Donald Trump’s campaign says he is “fine” after what law enforcement officials are treating as an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Officials said the man who opened fire was a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania.
In a social media post, Trump said he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.” The former president was quickly whisked from the stage by Secret Service agents, his ear covered in blood.
A prosecutor said the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead, and the Secret Service said two spectators were critically injured.
President Joe Biden and political leaders of all stripes condemned the attack. “There’s no place in America for this type of violence,” Biden said. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”
Law enforcement officials say assailant who opened fire at Trump rally was a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania
The officials spoke to AP on condition of anonymity to discuss details that had not yet been publicly released.
FBI says it’s ‘surprising’ the shooter was able to fire so many rounds
Asked if law enforcement did not know the shooter was on the roof until he began firing, Kevin Rojek, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Pittsburgh field office, responded, “that is our assessment at this time.”
“It is surprising” that the shooter was able to get off as many rounds as were fired, Rojek said. He added that “all the details of that will come out later investigation.”
Meanwhile State Police said the Secret Service was responsible for surveying the venue where the rally was held. Asked whether there was anything about the venue that made it particularly difficult to secure, Lt. Col. Bivens deferred to the Secret Service, which was not present at the news conference.
Bivens said he wouldn’t speculate when asked “how close a call” it was for Trump.
Bivens also said police have have identified the person killed and people injured but are not prepared to release names.
Other than Trump, two people were critically injured and one was killed. All were adult males.
FBI says investigators haven’t identified motive in assassination attempt against Trump
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.
Trump’s private jet has left Pennsylvania, according to a flight tracking website
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also said Trump had left the area of Butler, where the rally was held.
Shapiro said Trump was “under the protection of US Secret Service and with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police.”
“Lori and I are thankful that his team reports that he is fine and we continue to wish him a full and speedy recovery,” the governor added.
