Former President Donald Trump was rushed offstage after shots were fired in an assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday evening. Trump said in a social media post that he was injured when a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear.
The Secret Service says Trump is now safe, and he was checked at a local hospital before leaving a few hours later. Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., told CBS News' Robert Costa that his father is "doing fine."
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed two people are dead — the gunman and an audience member, who has been identified as Corey Comperatore. He was shot while attempting to shield his family from the gunfire, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a news conference Sunday. Two spectators were also critically injured.
The gunman was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper, authorities said.
Reporters heard numerous shots and Secret Service rushed the stage. Video captured by CBS News shows Trump touching his ear and then crouching to the ground. Some blood could be seen on his face.
In a statement early Sunday morning, the FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, which is located just outside Pittsburgh.
In a news conference late Saturday night, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh office, refused to speculate on a possible motive, but said authorities are investigating the shooting as an "attempted assassination."
A law enforcement official said early Sunday that there are no foreign terrorism ties known at this time and the suspect was not on the radar of law enforcement, although they are still running his name down.
According to multiple law enforcement officials, the gunman opened fire with a semiautomatic AR-style rifle. ATF is tracing the weapon. The gunman was on top of a shed outside the security perimeter set up by the Secret Service, and opened fire from about 400 feet away, law enforcement sources said.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News on Sunday that suspicious devices were found in the gunman's vehicle. The gunman also had with him a piece of commercially available equipment that appeared capable of initiating the devices. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report.
Bomb technicians called to the scene were involved in securing and investigating the devices.
Rojek called it "surprising" that the gunman was able to fire multiple shots. When pressed by reporters, he refused to provide details on the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the FBI's investigation. He disclosed that "there was identification of suspicious packages around where the shooter was, and so we deployed, in an abundance of caution, bomb assets, to make sure those were cleared for investigators."
He did not say if any such packages were found.
"Right now, we're tracking down all leads, and doing all interviews, and tracking anything that we can regarding suspicious locations, vehicles ... that's all related to this event, but I can't confirm or deny anything beyond that," Rojek said.
The FBI is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Secret Service and state and local agencies.
"It is incredibly difficult to have a venue open to the public, and to secure that against any possible threat, against a very determined attacker," Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said of the Secret Service, "That's a huge lift to try and do it." No Secret Service officials attended Saturday night's news conference.
Earlier in the evening, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the "Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe." The agency released more details in a second statement:
"During Former President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of July 13 at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. U.S. Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased. U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and Former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured. This incident is currently under investigation. and the Secret Service has notified the FBI."
The Trump campaign said in a statement, "President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility." He was released from the hospital later Saturday night.
In a post on Truth Social Saturday night, Trump elaborated on what happened and described his injuries:
"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. 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. 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!"
A photo by New York Times photographer Doug Mills captured the moment a bullet flew past Trump's head as he spoke at the rally.
