Political violence: Trump injured during rally, shooter dies, rally attendee dies, 2 injured

The U.S. Secret Service reported former President Donald Trump was “safe” on Saturday after abruptly removing him from a campaign rally that turned into a crime scene in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump was injured and the Secret Service announced there was an investigation into a “possible assassination attempt.” The FBI was the leading agency in the investigation.

The shooter died, according to Butler County District Attorney Richard A. Goldinger.

“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”

According to the U.S. Secret Service, a rally attendee also died and two others were wounded.

VIDEO OF SHOOTING

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A witness who identified as “Greg” told The BBC that he was in the rally when he saw a suspicious man armed with a rifle “bear-crawling up the roof” of a nearby building and he alerted police.

“The next thing you know, five shots ring out,” he said.

During the shooting, Trump stopped speaking to the crowd, held his right ear, and moved lower behind the podium. The U.S. Secret Service surrounded Trump. The witness said he saw the U.S. Secret Service kill the shooter.

“They crawled up on the roof, they had their guns pointed at him, made sure he was dead,” the witness said. “He was dead, and that was it. It was over.”

The loud communication among the agents reflected a coordinated response. Someone near Trump shouted, “Shooter is down!”

There was blood on Trump when he stood back up. He raised his right fist, as U.S. Secret Service agents formed a ring around him to protect him while moving him away from the podium.

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The agents took him away from the crowd and into a vehicle. Some in the crowd screamed in terror. The U.S. Secret Service counterattack group in military gear rushed into the rally to search for the threat. U.S. Secret Service agents in suits wielded their guns.

Rico Elmore, a Republican who was a speaker at the rally, told CNN that he was walking away from the stage where Trump was when the shooting happened. He saw a man he had never met get shot.

“I jumped over the barrier and put my hand on the guy’s head that was profusely bleeding,” Elmore said.

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Law enforcement evacuated the rally and used crime scene tape to block an area. A police helicopter flew above the area.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, released 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. More details will follow.”

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This is a developing story. CNN, ABC News, and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Torres is reporting from the Local 10 News headquarters in Pembroke Park.