Trump rally shooting: What we know so far
Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with what appears to be blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. Photo: Rebecca DROKE / AFP
Former US President Donald Trump's face was splattered with blood on Sunday (NZ time) at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after gunfire erupted and hit him in the ear.
The Republican candidate for this year's presidential election was quickly surrounded by Secret Service staff. Trump held a fist aloft as he was escorted to a waiting vehicle and taken to a local medical facility.
Here is what we know about the incident so far, as of 2.30pm (NZ time). For the latest updates, follow our live blog here.
Trump was on stage speaking to a crowd of supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania when loud shots began ringing out. Video showed the 78-year-old grabbing his ear then dropping to the floor behind his lectern as Secret Service agents swarmed in, one of them shouting "get down, get down". Several more shots were heard. Trump - with blood on his cheek and ear - was then bundled into a vehicle, holding his fist aloft for the cheering crowd. The former president said in a post on social media a bullet "pierced the upper part of my right ear", and he knew immediately "something was wrong". A spokesperson for his campaign said in a statement earlier he was "fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility". He has since left. The shooter was killed, as was an audience member, US media said, citing local officials. Two others were in hospital, both critical. NBC News reports the shooter, a male, has been identified by authorities - but they are keeping his name tightly under wraps for now. Law enforcement officials, including the Secret Service and FBI, are treating it as an attempted assassination. Eyewitnesses have told BBC News they saw a man with a rifle on top of a one-storey building near the event, before the shooting began. Video uploaded to social media showing a man lying on a roof, apparently dead, appeared to back up these accounts, as did anonymous law enforcement officials speaking to CNN. CBS, citing law enforcement sources, reported the gunman fired from about 200 yards (182m) away. Trump's political rival, President Joe Biden, condemned the attack and said he was grateful Donald Trump was doing well. "There's no place in America for this kind of violence." He said he had an opinion on whether it was an assassination attempt or not, but would not speculate without knowing the facts. Trump says he still plans to attend the Republic convention in Milwaukee next week, where he will be formally nominated as the party's candidate.Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on 13 July, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Photo: AFP/ Getty - Anna Moneymaker
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