Shots (or something) fired at Trump’s rally.
He looks like he was hit in the ear and was bleeding as he was taken off stage. He was taken out standing and on his own feet.
It sounded to me like it was fired from a distance. There was the sound of a “pop” and then an echo about a .25 second later. Three shots initially before he got down. Then another six. [This volley of shots could have been return fire from Secret Service. CNN reports they could overhear ‘shooter down’ from their radio on the microphones.]
He’s clearly injured as he’s taken off stage, blood appears from behind his ear, but he’s up and conscious.
David Urban on CNN reports that a person in the second row was shot in the head. Not good.
Ok, I’ve been responding in comments — but my initial thoughts are, this is terrible.
No matter who caused it or why — it’s an American tragedy. It’s a disgrace. This shouldn’t have fucking happened. There’s no excuse. This man could — and I think will — be handled at the ballot box and by the jury box.
This was not necessary. Anyone involved deserves to be prosecuted fully.
I’m not happy, or gleeful or giving any schadenfreude over this. The man has a family. I do hope that he is unharmed and can continue his campaign.
Politically, this is a boon for him. He can continue playing the “victim” even more loudly. It would be terrible if this was a repeat of the Congressional Baseball game attack or anything like that. Some are arguing that it is a “false flag” and staged — I’m gonna leave that idea alone for now but I wouldn’t put it beneath him. It would be right out of the Bob Roberts playbook.
Either way, I think we all need to stand strongly against this crime. There’s no room for this in our politics and in our country.
The speed of sound is 1125 feet per second and there seemed to be about .25 second delay between the initial “snap” sound and what seemed like an echo. that means about 275-325 foot distance between the gun and the cameras. If the firing came from a lateral position or behind the stage that’s at least another 150-200 feet away. That would be outside the perimeter and probably to stage right to the side of the bleachers. Now, this is arm-chair forensics but people behind the stage were also looking to their right in the direction of where the sounds (shots) came from. If there were some camera angles that went in that direction we could get a better idea of the area around the apparent shooter.
CNN reports that law enforcement says the “Shooter has been neutralized.”
Yahoo News
Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump was apparently shot at during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday. Trump had been addressing the crowd for around five minutes when shots rang out. Trump seemed to grab at his right ear before he was told to duck by Secret Service agents who jumped on top of him.
“An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania,” the Secret Service said in a statement, shared by communications chief Anthony Guglielmi. “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.”
A Secret Service member was heard saying “shooter down” shortly after Trump was apparently grazed by a bullet. Citing law enforcement sources, the Atlantic reported they were told “the suspect is down” shortly after the shooting.
Following the shots, Trump appeared to have blood on his face as he held up his fist and mouthed “Fight” at the crowd several times while being led away by his Secret Service detail. The crowd broke into a “USA” chant.’
NBC’s Dasha Burns described the moment that shots rang out. “We were in the middle of all of this as this all transpired. We were getting off of the press riser, getting to the ground level where all of the attendees are on the grass here at this venue. We heard at first what I thought might have been fireworks. I even saw a little bit of smoke — wasn’t sure what was going on.”
“My producer Bianca and I then realized this might be something more serious. We then got ourselves behind a barricade for safety. Trying to make sure our colleagues and peers around us were safe. Everyone ducked down. As you see in that video, the former president ducked down. Secret service came and protected him. People in the audience hear those who were attending — initial confusion.”
“This is not something you are expecting when you are at an event like this. We get down on the ground. We hear those continued pop, pop, pop, pop, pops. They kept going. It felt like for a long time for those of us who were here on site,” Burns concluded.
AP reports that the suspected gunman and at least one attendee, are dead.
CNN reports are that the shooter was located outside the perimeter on a low roof and he was killed by the Secret Service. The second victim indicates that the gun and the shots were real. Close-ups of Trump’s wound see to show the damage done to his ear by a bullet.
Before too many people get hooped up on the idea that “The Left tried to Kill Trump” — do not let them forget that Trump tried to kill Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi. Let them not forget that a Trump supporter sent pipe bombs to CNN and Congress. Let them not forget that multiple Trump supporters have attacked the FBI. Let them not forget that a Trumper broke into Nancy.Pelosi’s house to kidnap and torture her, then smashed her husband in the head with a hammer.
People are saying “Everybody is so angry” — yeah well who started that? Who calls the other side “Communists, Marxists, Socialists, and Satanists?” Who is it that says we aren’t “Real Americans.” Who was it who put gunsight targets on Gabby Gifford’s district? Who is it that talks about a “Bloodbath?” Who talks constantly about “The Storm” and the “Day of the Rope?”
Who wants to unleash active duty military against his opponents to kill them on sight?
Just saying.
President Biden
Not a migrant. Not a drag queen. Not a Mexican. Not a Muslim. Not a Black Guy. Not (so far) someone LGBTQ. Not a Democrat. Not from a Democrat City. Not Antifa.
A white guy. A gun nut. A Republican. From Pennsylvania.
Somehow that fits.
I’ve tried not to speculate too much, but this may have been a crazed QAnoner who was upset with Trump for not doing enough about the Adrenochrome children.
Or… he wasn't aiming at Trump, he was just aiming at the crowd and (as has been reported) Trump was only hit by broken glass from the teleprompter.
Again, rank speculation. So probably worthless.