Shots fired during a Trump rally in Pennsylvania
UPDATE (9:45 PM): The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting at former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In a statement, the FBI announcing that it "has assumed the role of the lead federal law enforcement agency" investigating Saturday's shooting.
The agency says that "special agents of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office responded immediately," and the FBI "will continue to support this investigation with the full resources of the FBI alongside our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement."
The FBI is asking "anyone with information that may assist with the investigation to call our tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI."
Later that night, the FBI held a press conference to provide an update about Saturday's assassination attempts.
NOTE: The video is disturbing.
UPDATE (9:11 PM): Cell video taken after the assassination attempt on former President Trump appears to show the body of a possible shooter.
The video appears to show a body on the roof of a building near the Trump rally.
Three senior law enforcement sources say the shots were fired from outside the rally's security perimeter set up by the secret service.
The building is about 150 yards from where Trump spoke.
Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service Chief of Communications, says the suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position. He says Secret Service personnel "neutralized" the shooter who is now dead.
UPDATE (8:44 PM): Witnesses who attended former President Donald Trump's rally Saturday describe seeing a person who died after being shot in the head.
Mr. Trump was speaking at the podium in Butler, Pennsylvania when shots rang out; killing one person and injuring two others.
Some of those attending Saturday's rally describe what they saw.
"Trump was talking, I was watching him. I heard pop pop pop, I thought it was like a cap gun. My son was like God get down! The next thing you know everybody around us was down. Once we got down, up at the to of our bleacher, the men were yelling to police to come over because he had shot a man and a woman in our bleacher."
Donna, attended rally
"I was in a set of bleachers to the very far left of the podium where Donald Trump, President Trump was speaking, I was there with friends. I heard several gunshots. The man beside me suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
The state police and a SWAT team showed up, started evacuating the bleachers and then I helped carry the man out of the bleachers to a tent that was behind the bleachers."
Joseph, attended rally
"The people in the bleachers behind us somebody got popped, somebody got killed, somebody died, somebody got shot, like this close to where we were. Those bullets, I pray to God for the people's families, oh my God. How is this happening in our country today, why is this happening?"
Tracy, attended rally
UPDATE (6:32 PM): The mayor of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania was sitting in the front row along with his wife just before shots rang out at former President Donald Trump's rally on Saturday.
Mayor Jondavid Longo witnessed the shooting from a short distance away, just in front of the stage barrier.
He describes the intense moments as the chaos ensued and former President Trump was whisked away by the Secret Service.
"We saw something very ugly today where President Trump came here to share in conservative camaraderie with his many tens of thousands of supporters here in Butler County and unfortunately we saw the worst of humanity come out.
I was seated in the very front row with my wife just to the right of the president just a barrier separating us form the stage so however many feet, 20 feet maybe, perhaps 25, and I did see that transpire, I heard the shots start, at first I heard the first shot thinking it could not have possibly been a firearm, I thought for sure it was a firecracker or a gag even, but I heard that sound and I confirmed in my mind what I knew was happening, it sounded like a 22 round for my vantage point so I put my wife down to the ground and I put myself on top of her while I scanned the crowd because I wasn't sure where those shots were coming from whether they were inside or not. I think I heard what I would describe as a ping off of the bleachers behind us, the bleachers were 15 to 20 feet behind us.
I saw the Secret Service pounce on top of the president to protect him eventually I saw him come up I saw him stick his fist up in the air, I saw the blood on the right side of his head but I saw him stand and stick his fist up in the air to let us know he was ok, it was an inspiring moment to see that.
Jondavid Longo, Mayor of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
UPDATE (6:09 PM): After word of the gunfire at Saturday's Trump rally in Pennsylvania, leading Republicans and Democrats to express their thoughts.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement: "In this horrible moment, encouraged to hear president trump's team indicate that the former president is doing well. An entire nation must speak with one voice today to completely and unequivocally reject all political violence."
Former President Barack Obama tweeted: "There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don't yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former president trump wasn't seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "Tonight, all americans are grateful that president trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally. Violence has no place in our politics. We appreciate the swift work of the secret service and other law enforcement."
House Speaker Mike Johnson said in part: "Kelly and I are praying for President Trump and all the attendees of the campaign rally today in Pennsylvania, and we send our gratitude to the law enforcement who responded at the scene."
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly tweeted: "Gabby and I are horrified by the incident in Pennsylvania. No one should ever have to experience political violence — we know that firsthand. We’re keeping former President Trump, his family, and everyone involved in our thoughts."
UPDATE (5:49 PM): The former president issued a statement on his Truth Social account. Read the statement below:
UPDATE (5:40 PM): President Joe Biden held a press conference in Rehoboth, Delaware on the Trump rally shooting.
During the press conference on Saturday, President Biden condemned the shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, calling it "sick."
Biden said he's been thoroughly briefed on the shootings.
He also said he's tried to talk with Trump but has not been able to reach him, but says Trump is apparently doing well.
Biden said there's no place in America for this kind of violence.
"It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this. And so, I want to thank the Secret Service and all the agency, including the state agencies, that are engaged in making sure that people and we have more detail to come relative to other injury, other people may be injured in the audience."
President Joe Biden
NBC News is reporting that Trump was injured, one spectator is dead, a second spectator is in serious condition, and that the shooter is dead.
When Biden was asked if he thought this was an assassination attempt, Biden says he did not know enough to have an opinion.
To watch the livestream of the press conference, see attached video.
UPDATE (5:02 PM): According to NBC News, the Butler County District Attorney confirms one spectator has been killed while another has been injuried, and the apparent shooter has been killed as well.
UPDATE (4:51 PM): Shortly after the incident, Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung issued a statement on behalf of Trump, saying that Mr. Trump "thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act."
Cheung goes on to give some initial information about the former president saying, "He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."
Three senior U.S. Law enforcement officials tell NBC News they are looking into whether or not two other individuals in the crowd were shot at the Trump rally.
Those officials tell NBC News that the threat has been "contained."
Following the shooting, Congressman Raul Ruiz (D-CA) has issued the following statement: "I unequivocally condemn violence of any kind. We must restore civility to our democratic process."
UPDATE (4:08 PM): NBC News is holding a special report on the shooting. See attached video.
UPDATE (3:50 PM): According to two senior law enforcement officials, former President Donald Trump is safe and is expected to survive.
BUTLER, Penn. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Former President Donald Trump was rushed off stage after shots were fired during his campaign event in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The former president held a campaign rally at the Butler Farm show near Pittsburgh in the critical battleground state.
However, as he addressed supporters, what appears to be gunfire could be heard, prompting trump to duck behind a podium and Secret Service members to crowd the stage.
His motorcade has departed from the venue.
An official with the Secret Service says they are still gathering information on this incident.
