Butler, Pennsylvania. – Some Trump rally attendees in Butler, Pa., had been waiting around the Butler Farm Showground since 8 a.m. Saturday to get a clear view of the former president when the event began later in the day.
Four years ago, in October 2020, before the last election, Trump traveled to this close-knit rural town north of Pittsburgh.
Locals are excited for round two this weekend, with some even dragging their kids along to see what will be a night they will never forget.
“A lot of people I know are shocked by what’s going on here. This is Trump country,” John Forsmot told Fox News Digital.
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Minutes after Trump took the stage, around 6:10 p.m., the crowd heard gunshots.
At first, some people thought they heard the sound of firecrackers or fireworks. Others who said they were familiar with the sound the firearm made said they knew immediately what was happening, especially given the circumstances and intended target.
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Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump is assisted by security personnel after gunfire rang out at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, the United States, on July 13, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
Trump then put his hands to his ears and ducked for cover, and the crowd followed suit. One attendee began covering those around him with folding metal chairs as a makeshift shield.
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Jayme Santoro said she was standing in the same area as former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore, who was shot while protecting his family from gunfire.
Santoro described seeing blood on the stands where attendees were standing, listening to Trump speak while unknowingly exposing themselves to danger.
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Former Buffalo Township Fire Chief Corey Comperatore poses with his daughters in an undated family photo. Thomas Matthew Crooks was trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pa., on Saturday, hitting Competore and killing him in a crossfire, authorities said. Secret Service agents returned fire, killing Crooks. (Helen Competore/Facebook)
“[I]It’s so insensitive and evil to read comments on social media and belittle this whole thing,” said Santoro, describing the jokes that circulated online after the shooting that left a father dead and two others in critical condition. “It’s frustrating. , disappointing and honestly unfathomable.
Authorities identified the two injured persons as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Both are currently in stable condition.
Santoro said she saw people “passing out” after witnessing the shooting.
On July 14, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, the United States, a scene captured by a drone while the police were investigating the shooting at a campaign rally of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Trump. (Carlos Osorio/Reuters)
The gunman was 20-year-old Thomas Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Secret Service shot and killed Crooks on the roof of the building about 160 yards from where Trump stood. Trump He was surrounded by his supporters.
The agency is currently investigating how the gunman was not only able to use an AR-15 to get up close to the rally site, but also how he was able to get so close to the former president.
Police snipers return fire as Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puska)
There were loud, frantic screams after the shots were fired, and some attendees ordered others to get down, but otherwise the crowd was relatively calm and collected. In fact, he was so calm that some heard the Secret Service say, “The shooter is down,” while the former president said he needed to get his shoes back.
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Former President Donald Trump is assisted onstage during a campaign rally at Butler Farm Show Inc. on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. , a shoe was left on the stage. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“[I]The crowd was very calm. … Frankly, I thought I was in church,” David Trepanier said. “Even after the event, no one was running. Everyone was calm and we walked out. I mean, it was an incredible, inspiring experience.
David Burch told Fox News Digital that he watches the Secret Service “all the time” because he’s “kind of obsessed” with the agency.
A Secret Service member is seen among the crowd at a rally for Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Anna Chanmemaker/Getty Images)
“They were looking through binoculars and then all of a sudden they picked up their rifles,” David Bocci told Fox News Digital. “Then they looked at the ARG building with their rifles and within 10 seconds you could hear The gunman fired shots and then the Secret Service fired back.”
David’s father, Dave Bocci, was surprised when the gunman climbed to the roof of the building with a rifle.
The Bethel Park School District can confirm that the alleged gunman who assassinated former President Donald J. Trump on July 13, 2024, was a graduate of Bethel Park High School. Thomas Matthew Crooks is a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School. (Bethel Park School District)
“Trump chose this place so close to the president [Republican National] custom. He knows what Penn State means to him. He knows the area,” Dave Bocci told Fox News Digital. “…Have a 20-year-old climb up there with an…AR-15, I can’t even…the whole election is going on here. You’d think you’d have double security.
“You’d think you had double security.”
Most rallygoers expressed gratitude that security personnel were able to neutralize the threat and ensure the safety of Trump, who had a bleeding ear. But they are baffled as to how a 20-year-old suspect came so close to killing the former president.
On July 13, 2024, Republican candidate Donald Trump was shot during a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. supporters were covered in blood in the stands. (Rebecca Drock/AFP Getty Images)
Trepanier called security at the event “terrible.” He and his wife walked through a security checkpoint when they arrived, where law enforcement officers were checking people’s belongings and watching attendees pass through metal detectors. At one point, however, they left the “safe area” and sat in the shade. When they went back, no one checked on them.
“I admire snipers, but why? … I know where these buildings are,” he said. “Why can’t they see this guy on the roof even though he’s hidden?”
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Former President Donald Trump is assisted by the crowd during a campaign rally at Butler Farm Show Inc., Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. They all hid under the chairs. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“I’m not going to let them guard my dog house. I’m very excited about it,” Trepanier added.
According to voting records, Crooks has no criminal record and is a registered Republican, but he only participated in the election November 8, 2022, state election, Because of his age. Records show he donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a Chicago-based political action committee that supports Democratic candidates for office and claims to support “key Democratic constituencies: young people, minorities and low-income people.” crowd”.
An aerial view shows the vehicle of law enforcement officers working at the Bethel Park, Pa., home of Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, whom the FBI named a former assassin of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s “subjects”, United States, July 14, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
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The FBI said it will continue to investigate Crooks and any other information it obtains.
The statement continued: “This remains an active and ongoing investigation and anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL -FBI.
Fox News’ Scott McDonald contributed to this report.
