it's the 13th of July in Butler Pennsylvania former US president Donald Trump speaks at a rally it's only days until he plans to accept the official Republican nomination he's just minutes into his speech when shots are fired take a look at what [Music] happened Trump got hit but survived [Music] someone tried to assassinate him in broad daylight here is how it unfolded Fern by the time this video is published new details might have emerged it's a hot sweltering early evening as tens of thousands gather here to see Trump Pennsylvania is one of six vital swing
States that will help secure the win in the next presidential election Butler skews heavily Republican and it is a bluecar town this is a big crowd this is a big big beautiful crowd he is surrounded by supporters most are sitting or standing in front of the stage some sit on the bleachers Center left and right Trump's support staff and security including Secret Service agents are right at the stage behind him are three large buildings on the roof of the building on the far left and on the far right are Secret Service snipers they are constantly
scanning the surroundings looking for threats they can be seen in this video filmed by a crowd member hello Butler and hello to Pennsylvania I'm thrilled to be back Trump begins with his speech things seem normal he turns to the right and points at a chart showing statistics on border crossings at the same time time several people in the crowd notice a man with a gun on the roof of a building close by he it's too late take a look what happened all of a sudden bullets start flying one even gets captured on camera another building
about 400 ft or 120 M north of the stage the shots are coming from here on the roof the gunman is 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Kooks he is armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle the gun was legally purchased by his father first he apparently fires around of three shots take a look at what happened Trump reaches up with his hand the first bullet pierces the upper part of his right ear he will later say that turning over to the right at that exact moment prevented the bullet from hitting him right in the head he Ducks down
behind the podium and within 3 to 4 seconds after the first shot secret service agent swarmed the former president and Shield him with their bodies Crooks opens fire again immediately with five more shots right before the first shot by Crooks one of the snipers on the left roof behind Trump seems to detect the gunman and prepares to return fire take a look at what happened some Outlets report that these snipers killed Crooks while the secret service confirmed its Personnel neutralize the shooter we could not corroborate that it was in fact these specific agents the gunmen
also hit spectators on the bleachers one man died 50-year-old Cory comprador two others were critically injured with Trump's microphone still on we can hear the tense exchanges among the agents on ready on you Mo about 42 seconds after Crook's open fire they confirm the shooter is down we good Shooters down are we good to move we clear we we're they prepare to escort him to an armored vehicle let me get my let me get my I got you sir I got you sir let me get my shoes hold that in your head bloody so we
got to move to the to the let me get myo okay watch out wait wait wait in about 75 seconds after ducking to the ground Trump raises his fist he's mouthing the words fight fight fight the resulting photo immediately travel around the entire world the crowd starts to Champ for the former president as he leaves the stage leeding Trump is then rushed to a hospital later that night he has flown to New Jersey he appears to be well there are a lot of questions we don't have an answer to right now why were the forces
unable to prevent the attack analysis on X suggests that at least the snipers on the roof behind Trump were likely Scouting For dangers further away with this rooftop possibly falling into the responsibility of other law enforcement agents we were unable to corroborate that why couldn't our men climb up on this building what was krook's motive the Gman had no criminal history in Pennsylvania's public court records the New York Times found a voter registration record for Crooks it shows that he was registered as a republican they also found that he donated $15 to a liberal voter
turnout group through a democratic donation platform in 2021 he was a kitchen worker and had a membership at a local shooting club the FBI found suspicious devices in both his car and home they are being evaluated by the agency at the time of this recording the investigation is ongoing and new information is being published by the minute President Biden and various leaders around the world condemn the attack and political violence at large the picture of trump bloodied but defiant with a raised fist in front of the American flag will surely become a powerful symbol in
his re-election campaign
