WATCH | Scripps' coverage of shooting at Donald Trump's rally.
UPDATE, 4:45 p.m. | From the Associated Press:
A full day after the shooting, the gunman's motive was still a mystery, and investigators said they believe he acted alone.
President Joe Biden ordered an independent security review of the attack, which left one bystander dead and two others critically wounded.
The FBI was investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
UPDATE, 3 p.m. | From the Associated Press:
The former fire chief who was killed at a Pennsylvania rally for Donald Trump spent his final moments diving in front of his family to protect them from gunfire that rang out Saturday during an assassination attempt against the former president.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed Sunday that Corey Comperatore, 50, had died a “hero," using his body as a shield to protect both his wife and daughter from the bullets.
“His wife shared with me that he dove on his family to protect them,” Shapiro said.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden extended their “deepest condolences” to Comperatore's family.
“He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired and he lost his life, God love him. We’re also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured," Biden said.
At least two other people were injured during the attempt to kill Trump at Saturday's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Those two have been identified as David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Both were listed in stable condition as of Sunday.
Separately, Texas U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson said in a statement Sunday that his nephew was injured but “thankfully his injury was not serious.”
“My family was sitting in the front, near where the President was speaking," Jackson said. "They heard shots ringing out — my nephew then realized he had blood on his neck and something had grazed and cut his neck. He was treated by the providers in the medical tent.”
UPDATE, 12:30 p.m. | Scripps News congressional correspondent Joe St. George offered an update to KSHB 41 ahead of the start of the Republican National Convention, speaking to the feeling in Milwaukee as the nation processes the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
"I think so much of the tone and the tenor, not just of this convention but in American politics for the rest of this election, will be set by what [the] former president says in his first major speech, whenever that happens," George said.
UPDATE, 11:15 a.m. | Kansas City-area politicians continue to share their thoughts on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Congressman Mark Alford, who represents Missouri’s 4th Congressional District, spoke with KSHB 41's Taylor Hemness and JuYeon Kim ahead of the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
He said security is already "very, very tight."
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II also spoke on the events of Saturday's Trump rally, saying in a statement that "violence has absolutely no place in the United States of America."
"In the strongest possible terms, I unequivocally condemn last night’s despicable, cowardly assassination attempt of the former president, and I am beyond relieved that Mr. Trump is safe and expected to make a swift, full recovery.
"Tragically, not everyone was as fortunate, as one individual was killed and several others were critically wounded in the attack. As I pray for the health and safety of the former president, and thank law enforcement for their swift response, my prayers are also with these victims and their families in this harrowing time.
“As I have always said, violence only begets more violence, which is why political violence is a threat to our democratic system and fundamental values as Americans. As law enforcement continues to investigate this abhorrent attack on a former president, let us all recommit to the essential principles of civility, respect, and nonviolence whenever we engage in politics.”
UPDATE, 10:30 a.m. | From the Associated Press:
Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that bomb-making materials were found inside the vehicle of the man suspected in the Trump rally shooting. There were also bomb-making materials found at his home. The two officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Investigators believe the firearm Crooks used had been purchased by Crooks' father at least six months ago, two law enforcement officials said. Federal agents were still working to understand when and how his son obtained the gun and to gather additional information about Crooks, according to the officials, who were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
UPDATE, 8 a.m. | Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to urge the country to "stand united."
"Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin."
UPDATE, 7:30 a.m. | Missouri Democrats released a statement condemning the acts of violence Saturday at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
“Violent political acts and rhetoric have no place in America. This is a time for leaders of all parties to resolve to bridge our deep and dangerous divisions," Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan said in the statement. "Our hearts go out to all the victims and their families, and we express our deep thanks to the Secret Service and related law enforcement for their prompt response.”
UPDATE, 7 a.m. | Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the U.S. Secret Service, posted on social media early Sunday morning, clarifying an "untrue assertion that a member of the former president's team requested additional security resources and that those were rebuffed."
"This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources, technology and capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo," Guglielmi posted.
UPDATE, 12:45 a.m. | Latest from NBC News:
Law enforcement authorities have identified the man who made an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.
The FBI said the shooter, who is dead, was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A motive was not clear.
The gunman was immediately “neutralized” by the U.S. Secret Service, chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said.
Bethel Park is a predominantly white, relatively well-to-do city in the southern reaches of Greater Pittsburgh. The site of the rally, Butler, is about an hour’s drive north of Pittsburgh.
UPDATE, 12:30 a.m. | From the Associated Press:
The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot and injure former President Donald Trump at a rally Saturday in Pennsylvania, a monumental failure of one the agency’s core duties.
The gunman, who was killed by Secret Service personnel, fired multiple shots at the stage from an “elevated position outside of the rally venue,” the agency said.
An Associated Press analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos taken at the Trump rally, as well as satellite imagery of the site, shows the shooter was able to get astonishingly close to the stage where the former president was speaking. A video posted to social media and geolocated by the AP shows the body of a man wearing gray camouflage lying motionless on the roof of a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds, where Trump’s rally was held.
The roof was less than 150 meters (yards) from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a decent marksman could reasonably hit a human-sized target. For reference, 150 meters is a distance at which U.S. Army recruits must hit a scaled human-sized silhouette to qualify with the M16 assault rifle in basic training. The AR-15, like the shooter at the Trump rally had, is the semi-automatic civilian version of the military M16.
The Secret Service didn’t have anybody at a late-night news conference where FBI and Pennsylvania State Police officials briefed reporters on the shooting investigation. FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire at the stage before he was killed.
Members of the Secret Service's counter sniper team and counter assault team were at the rally, according to two law enforcement officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss details of the investigation.
The heavily-armed counter assault team, whose Secret Service code name is “Hawkeye,” is responsible for eliminating threats so that other agents can shield and take away the person they are protecting. The counter sniper team, known by the code name “Hercules,” uses long-range binoculars and is equipped with sniper rifles to deal with long-range threats.
UPDATE, 9:34 p.m. | In a statement, the White House says President Biden spoke Saturday night with former President Trump. The White House says Biden also spoke with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Butler, Pennsylvania Mayor Bob Dandoy.
Biden is scheduled to return to the White House early Sunday morning from Delaware.
UPDATE, 9:23 p.m. | A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said in a statement: “We are shocked by the scenes at President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. We condemn all forms of political violence in the strongest terms and we send our best wishes to President Trump and his family at this time.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on X he was “sickened” by the shooting. “It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable. My thoughts are with former President Trump, those at the event, and all Americans.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident “concerning and confronting.”
“There is no place for violence in the democratic process,” Albanese wrote in a post on X. “I am relieved to hear reports that former President Trump is now safe.”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro repudiated the attack and wished Trump a speedy recovery, adding, May God bless the people of the United States and give them peace and tranquility.”
“We have been adversaries, but I wish President Trump health and long life, and I repudiate that attack.”
In a post on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Sara and I were shocked by the apparent attack on President Trump. We pray for his safety and speedy recovery.”
UPDATE, 8:58 p.m. | WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic leaders, past and present, expressed shock Saturday night following the news that gunfire had broken out during a Donald Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania — and relief that the former president had survived the attack.
Notable officials, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, praised the fast action of the Secret Service and expressed gratitude that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee appeared to be OK.
“As one whose family has been the victim of political violence, I know firsthand that political violence of any kind has no place in our society. I thank God that former President Trump is safe,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. "As we learn more details about this horrifying incident, let us pray that all those in attendance at the former President’s rally today are unharmed.”
Pelosi's husband was bludgeoned with a hammer in 2022 by a man who broke into their home.
Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said he had spoken to his father on the phone and “he is in great spirits.” “He will never stop fighting to save America, no matter what the radical left throws at him,” Trump Jr. said in a statement.
Obama, Trump’s immediate predecessor in the White House, shared the views of others who have held the presidency, writing on social media: “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.”
President Joe Biden said: “There’s no place in America for this type of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick.”
Bush praised the Secret Service for their “speedy response” to the violence. “Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life,” Bush wrote on X.
Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, blasted the violence in his home state.
“I am appalled and condemn in the strongest terms this violence in Butler,” he wrote on X. “I extend my condolences to those injured and wish a speedy and full recovery for Mr. Trump.”
UPDATE, 8:44 p.m. | The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee have issued a statement indicating Trump will attend the Republican National Convention this week in Milwaukee.
"President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States," Trump's campaign and the RNC said. "As our party's nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to Make America Great Again."
UPDATE, 8:40 p.m. | From United States Senator Roger Marshall, (R), Kansas
"Tonight, we watched in horror as an assassination attempt was made on President Trump. This attack has tragically claimed the life of an innocent American, and was centimeters away from taking the life of the 45th President.
"We, as a nation, need to pause and grasp the magnitude of this event. There is no place for this violence in civil society. We are praying for President Trump, all of those injured, and the innocent attendee who was killed and their family. Thank you to our law enforcement officers and the secret service agents who eliminated the attacker with swift justice.”
UPDATE, 8:20 p.m. | KSHB 41 News reporter Abby Dodge spoke to U.S. Rep. Mark Alford Saturday night.
Alford is already in Milwaukee ahead of this week's Republican National Convention.
“Security is tight here and I anticipate it will get even tighter now with president Trump’s arrival on Monday," Alford said. “I do believe the rhetoric has gotten too heated in America. We have got to tone it down.”
“Hopefully we will get some answers and try to make sure this never happens again to any president whether Republican or Democrat.”
Alford said he is securing and closing down his campaign offices as a result.
UPDATE, 8 p.m. | The U.S. Secret Service provided an update on the shooting at Donald Trump's rally.
The shooter, who is now dead after being neutralized by U.S. Secret Service agents, fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside of the rally, the agency said.
One attendee was killed, and two others were critically wounded.
Here is the latest information from our investigation. We are grateful to the Secret Service team and our law enforcement partners for their swift action. Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. pic.twitter.com/E8FazqtUVZ
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) July 14, 2024
UPDATE, 7:55 p.m. | In a social media post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said he was shot at the rally, saying a bullet pierced his ear.
"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," Trump said in the post. "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 realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
UPDATE, 7:30 p.m. | Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly also released a statement on the incident.
"The free exchange of political discourse is a bedrock of our democracy," Kelly said. "Today’s gun violence is unacceptable and resulted in senseless loss of life. I’m thankful for the quick response of law enforcement to protect all in attendance."
UPDATE, 6:57 p.m. | President Joe Biden released a statement following the deadly shooting at Trump's rally, saying he's grateful Trump is safe, among other things.
"I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania," Biden said in the statement. "I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."
UPDATE, 6:50 p.m. | Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt called the incident horrific and offered prayers for Trump.
“I’m praying for President Trump and everyone who was in attendance at the rally, including the family and loved ones of the innocent attendee that was reportedly shot and killed," Schmitt said. "It is an absolutely horrific scene in Pennsylvania. Secret Service should be applauded for their quick response and bravery in the face of danger. God bless President Trump and God bless the United States of America.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also offered prayers.
Please join Teresa and me in praying for President Trump, his family, and all victims who were in attendance at the rally in Pennsylvania today. Please pray for our nation.
UPDATE, 6:40 p.m. | Citing the Butler County district attorney, the Associated Press is reporting a shooter is dead and a rally attendee was killed at a Donald Trump event in Pennsylvania.
ORIGINAL STORY | Kansas City-area officials are offering their support for former President Donald Trump and condemning political violence after he was rushed off stage during an incident at one of his rallies in Pennsylvania.
It's not immediately clear what happened, but reports indicate loud noises that sounded like gun shots were heard.
Trump's campaign in a statement said he's doing "fine" and is being checked out at a local medical facility.
"President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act," the statement said. "He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."
Support, reaction for local officials
Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall was among the many who has offered prayers for Trump.
"Praying for President Trump," Marshall said via social media.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley offered a similar sentiment.
"Pray for President Trump. And for justice," Hawley said.
Missouri Rep. Mark Alford asked others to join him in prayer.
"Please join me in praying for President Trump and for everyone at today’s rally," Alford said in the statement. "I hope everyone is alright and that there is swift justice."
Kansas Sen. Moran offered prayers for everyone involved in the rally.
"Praying for President Trump, everyone who attended the rally and for our country," Moran said.
KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas offered a lengthy comment on the matter.
"All of us as Americans and decent humans should be glad to see the former president’s staff reports that he is okay," Lucas said. "Thank you to the first responders on the scene. Having been too close to a shooting recently, I continue to pray for President Trump and all present."
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