Everything you need to know about Trump’s assassination attempt

with the recent attempt on trump’s life, here’s what you need to know

On July 13th the world witnessed history as an attempted assassination on former president Donald Trump unfolded during a live broadcast of a rally in Butler Pennsylvania, leaving one dead and two injured. 

While addressing his supporters at the rally, shots were fired at Trump from a shooter who was positioned on a roof almost 500 feet away. Before the shots were even fired, a few attendees noticed the shooter on the roof as they tried to draw attention to him. In a video posted online, a police officer is seen walking towards the roof a few minutes before the shooting. According to CNN, at least 8 shots were fired by both the shooter and law enforcement. The shooter was killed by Secret Service personnel. Before Trump was taken off stage, he told agents to wait. Putting his fist in the air right under the American flag, he mouths ‘fight, fight, fight,’ prompting cheers from the crowd. 

The bullet only grazed Trump’s ear but hit those behind Trump killing Corey Comperatore who was caught in the crossfire when he dove in front of his family to protect them but was killed in the process. Comperatore was a firefighter with a wife and two daughters. Comperatore is remembered by family and friends as a hero, whose last act was protecting those he loved. 

54-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver were also critically injured by the shooting. Both are being treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and were upgraded from critical to serious conditions soon after the shooting, but remain hospitalized as they recover.  

The shooter was identified as Thomas Mathew Crooks, who is a registered Republican from rural Pennsylvania. Authorities are still unclear as to his motive. Mathew Crooks’s parents reported him missing hours before the rally, stating concern for their son. 

During the fallout of these events in the subsequent days, many are blaming the Secret Service for their failure to secure the perimeter and get Trump away from the podium as fast as possible. Many attendees pointed out the shooter on the roof well before the shooting to local authorities. Yet, he was deemed ‘suspicious’ and not questioned because he was not initially armed. However, he got down from the roof and returned, this time with a deadly weapon. Many also point out that Trump wasn’t immediately taken off stage after the initial shots, as he was given time to go get his shoes as well as pose for photographers who were swarming the scene amidst the chaos.  

A lot of the aftermath that followed this event were politicians calling for unity, as many from both the Republican and Democratic parties stated their political differences should not ensue violence. President Joe Biden called Trump to check on his safety and made a statement calling the people to ‘unite as one nation.’ 

Many agree with President Biden as violence like this has no place in American politics. Even though it's unknown whether the shooter was motivated for political reasons, no candidate should undergo an attempt on their life. 

During the Republican National Convention where Trump accepted the GOP presidential nomination. During his speech, which was the longest convention speech in history at 93 minutes, he advocated for unity amongst the American people, stating that he was running to be president of ‘all of America,’ because there was ‘no victory’ in winning half of America.