A chaotic scene unfolded Saturday following a fatal shooting at a campaign rally for Donald Trump that left the former president wounded, a bystander dead, and two more critically injured.
The would-be assassin fired as many as eight shots, according to analysis of the footage by Business Insider, as well as The New York Times, ABC News, and NBC News, before Secret Service agents killed him.
Early reports indicated eyewitnesses saw the shooter on a roof near the rally site and tried to warn law enforcement of the danger, prompting immediate criticism about how security at the event was handled.
Here’s a minute-by-minute breakdown of how the harrowing incident unfolded, pieced together from video footage of the rally and official statements made after the shooting.
Between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 13 — a crowd gathered to watch Donald Trump’s campaign rally
Thousands of attendees came to see former President Donald Trump speak at a campaign rally at Butler Farm Show, a fairgrounds venue in Butler, Pennsylvania. Doors to the event opened at 1 p.m., drawing a large crowd in 90-degree heat.
Trump was originally scheduled to speak at 5 p.m. local time.
6:02 p.m. ET — Trump took the stage, waving to the crowd
The former president took the stage about an hour after his remarks were set to begin. At 6:02 p.m., he walked toward the microphone, waving to the crowd.
Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the USA” was playing in the background. Trump, clad in a red “Make America Great Again” hat, appeared in good spirits.
Between 6:02 p.m. and 6:11 p.m. ET — Trump began his remarks and eyewitnesses spotted the shooter
Trump began his remarks at the rally shortly after 6 p.m. He marveled at the size of the crowd that had gathered to support him, took off-script jabs at the “fake news” media, and began describing how the country is “going to hell.”
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the would-be assassin was spotted on a nearby roof as Trump took the stage.
“We noticed a guy bear crawling up the roof of the building beside us, probably 50 feet away,” one witness told the BBC. “So we’re pointing at the guy crawling up the roof…he had a rifle; we could clearly see him with a rifle.”
The man told the BBC he and his friends attempted to warn the Secret Service of the shooter’s presence and tried to alert local police.
“The police were like, ‘Huh, what?’ Like they didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “I’m thinking, why is Trump still speaking? I’m pointing at the roof… for two to three minutes, and the Secret Service is just looking at us.”
The Washington Post and Associated Press reported the suspected gunman came face-to-face with a local police officer while on the roof, but the officer was unable to subdue him.
6:11 p.m. ET — The first gunshot rang out
As Trump began speaking about immigration statistics, he turned slightly to his right toward a chart onstage about illegal border crossings.
“Take a look at what happened…” Trump said. It was at that moment the first three shots rang out.
The FBI later confirmed the gunman was armed with an “AR-style” rifle that was legally purchased.
Trump could be seen raising his right hand to his right ear and grimacing before ducking below the podium.
The shooter was located less than 500 feet away from the stage
The suspected shooter was later determined to have been located on the roof of a building next to the rally — about 450 feet away from Trump’s location on the podium.
6:12 p.m. ET — Secret Service agents laid atop Trump onstage after he was shot at
Secret Service agents rushed the stage, surrounding Trump and laying atop him after he appeared to be struck.
“Get down! Get down! Get down! Get down!” one agent could be heard yelling as several additional shots rang out.
Several bystanders in attendance at the rally were struck in the incident. One spectator was killed, and two more were wounded.
Additional Secret Service agents quickly exchanged fire with the suspected shooter, killing him.
“Shooter is down,” an agent could be heard saying from the stage.
6:13 p.m. ET — Secret Service agents surrounded Trump as they began to usher him offstage
A group of Secret Service agents helped Trump to his feet. Blood could be seen on the former president’s face and he briefly appeared disoriented. Trump could be heard asking for his shoes.
6:13 p.m. ET — Trump defiantly raised his fist and shouted ‘Fight, fight, fight’ as he left the stage
As he was ushered off the stage, Trump could be heard telling the Secret Service agents around him to “wait.”
The agents gave Trump a moment to collect himself, and in the brief pause amid the flurry of movement, he raised his fist and shouted at the crowd to “Fight, fight, fight!”
By 6:14 p.m. ET — Trump was ushered safely off the stage and into a waiting car. His motorcade quickly departed.
Trump could be seen raising his fist in the air as he got into the motorcade vehicle. The motorcade was followed by an ambulance.
6:42 p.m. ET — The Secret Service confirmed Trump was ‘safe’ following the shooting
“An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi posted on X, roughly half an hour after Trump left the stage. “The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.”
An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available.
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) July 13, 2024
8:42 p.m. ET — Trump posts on Truth Social about the incident
“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 wrote in a post on Truth Social. “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.”
He added: “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that 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. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
8:49 p.m. ET — The Secret Service confirmed the shooter had been ‘neutralized,’ 1 rally attendee had been killed, and 2 more injured
Secret Service spokesman Guglielmi in a statement posted on social media wrote he was “grateful to the Secret Service team and our law enforcement partners for their swift action,” and sent condolences to the families of those killed and wounded in the incident.
The statement indicated the suspected shooter “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.”
“US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased,” the statement continued. “US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated. One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured.”
Here is the latest information from our investigation. We are grateful to the Secret Service team and our law enforcement partners for their swift action. Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. pic.twitter.com/E8FazqtUVZ
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) July 14, 2024
10:33 p.m. ET — The FBI announced it would take the lead on the investigation
The Secret Service quickly came under intense scrutiny for the “major failure” that allowed the former president to be shot during the event.
Amid the criticism, the FBI released a statement indicating it would take the lead on the ongoing investigation into the shooting.
“We will continue to support this investigation with the full resources of the FBI, alongside our partners at the US Secret Service and state and local law enforcement,” the statement read.
Updated FBI statement on the ongoing incident that took place today in Butler, Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/zWr5ZqyJBI
— FBI Pittsburgh (@FBIPittsburgh) July 14, 2024
11:55 p.m. ET — An FBI press conference confirms the incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt
Kevin Rojek, a spokesperson for the FBI, in a press briefing that extended past midnight on Sunday morning, said the agency had deemed the incident an attempted assassination of the former president.
1:34 a.m. ET on Sunday July 14 — FBI releases shooter’s name: Thomas Matthew Crooks
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” a statement released by the FBI read.
The statement continued: “This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at fbi.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
Additional information about Crooks has continued to be reported following officials’ confirmation of his identity. Here’s what we know about him so far.
After 12 p.m. ET — Corey Comperatore was identified as the victim killed in the shooting
In a Sunday post on Facebook, Allyson Comperatore wrote a memorial for her father, Corey Comperatore, identifying him as the victim who was killed during the rally shooting.
Corey Comperatore was a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter and father of two.
“The media will not tell you that he died a real-life super hero,” Allyson Comperatore wrote on Facebook. “They are not going to tell you how quickly he threw my Mom and I onto the ground. They are not going to tell you that he shielded my body from the bullet that came at us.”
She added: “He was a man of God that loved Jesus fiercely… I know that God is proud of the man that came to His gates yesterday.”
Comperatore’s identity was confirmed by the state’s Governor Josh Shapiro Sunday afternoon.
A Trump-backed GoFundMe for Comperatore and other victims of the shooting had raised over $3.175 million at the time of publication.
The post A minute-by-minute breakdown of the deadly Trump rally shooting as it unfolded appeared first on Business Insider.
