At a recent rally in Pennsylvania, an alarming incident occurred where Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was nearly assassinated, sources reveal.
The attacker, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, targeted Trump amidst the bustling crowd gathered to hear him speak.
During the rally, chaos erupted as gunshots were heard, with Trump visibly reacting by clutching his ear before swiftly being shielded by Secret Service agents.
Trump, in a defiant gesture, raised his fist to the crowd and was seen mouthing ‘FIGHT’ multiple times before being whisked away in an SUV.
A police officer reportedly ascended a ladder to approach a man presumed to be Crooks positioned on a rooftop, but retreated when the man aimed a rifle at them, say sources to Associated Press.
The subsequent gunfire slightly wounded Trump, causing a minor ear injury, though he managed to avoid serious harm.
The violence claimed the life of one rally attendee and left two others in critical condition.
Within moments of opening fire, Crooks was fatally shot by Secret Service counter-snipers.
Witnesses told BBC that they spotted an individual performing an unusual ‘bear-crawl’ up a building with a rifle in hand, overseeing the rally site.
Post-incident, Trump’s team assured the public he was unharmed and in good spirits.
In his statement, Trump expressed his gratitude towards the Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift action, and mourned the loss and injuries suffered by attendees:
“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 realised then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
This close call has sparked widespread concern about security measures during such high-profile events.
The FBI has opened an investigation into the incident, with Robert Wells, executive assistant director of the FBI’s National Security Branch, promising thorough scrutiny of all leads.
The FBI’s response to this incident is under close observation, with UNILAD reaching out for further comments.