Assassination attempt at Trump rally: Chaos and heroism unfold
During Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, there was a failed attempt on his life. A witness account has appeared online. "I heard gunshots and calls for help," says one of the witnesses. Another recalls seeing the shooter and informing the authorities about it.
7:23 AM EDT, July 14, 2024
At a certain point during the rally, several loud bangs could be heard, prompting Trump to duck and take cover behind the podium.
Secret Service agents securing the event immediately sprang into action. Trump was lifted and made a fist gesture to the crowd. Photos show the Republican candidate with blood on his face, and his right ear also appears to be bloody.
A Secret Service spokesman confirmed that "the former president is safe."
Failed assassination attempt on Trump: Witnesses describe what they saw
The internet quickly flooded with recordings of the entire incident. There were also videos showing witnesses—supporters of the former president present at the scene. CBS News reporter Jake Rosen posted the account of a man who gave first aid to the injured on the social media platform X.
"I heard gunshots and calls for help. The person had a gunshot wound to the head. I provided first aid," the man says in the recording. The witness, wearing a blood-stained white T-shirt and with blood on his face, described how he ran up, identified himself as a rescuer, and helped. "There was a lot of blood; the injured person was lying between the benches," he emphasized. The man stated that heart massage and artificial respiration were performed.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger later told the AP in a phone conversation that the suspected shooter is dead.
He also added that at least one rally participant was killed and another person is in critical condition.
Another witness spoke to the BBC, pointing out that he saw the attacker and the moment he climbed onto one of the nearby roofs from where he fired shots. He claims that he tried to inform the authorities about it, but they did not see the attacker and did not react until after the incident.
"We did not see Trump, but we heard him. The shots appeared 5-7 minutes after the speech began," says a supporter of the former president. The man said he alerted the authorities that he saw a man with a long gun taking position on the roof of a barn. "We told the police and pointed at him; it lasted about three minutes. Why wasn't there enough Secret Service on site?" he emphasized.
"The guy was there 100%. We saw him crawling with a gun. I'm sure of it. It was a shotgun," he noted.
"There are only a few buildings here. Why wasn't there a Secret Service there? There are many questions," he said in an interview with the BBC. The witness also saw the moment the attacker was shot.
