Former US President Donald Trump was injured during an assassination attempt on Sunday. The incident took place during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, killing one bystander and leaving two other spectators critically wounded. The shooter — identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks — was killed by the US Secret Service after firing from an elevated rooftop.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The chaotic and bloody scene unfolded less than four months before the US Presidential elections. The Republican candidate was seen pumping his fist in defiance as he was being hurried from the stage. Trump was released from a local hospital Saturday night after being evaluated. The incident is likely to impact the already-strained political landscape in America.
The former POTUS was addressing a campaign rally when four shots rang out in quick succession. Repeated shouts of ‘get down’ were heard as Trump clutched at his right ear and two more shots were fired. The attack came at 6:08 pm local time. The Republican leader crouched down behind the lectern as Secret Service agents moved in around him. Screams were heard in the crowd.
Further shots were fired within four seconds as more supporters ducked for cover and additional agents rushed to the stage. Seventeen seconds after the first shots, a final pop was heard and a woman screamed.
The FBI has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the suspect. State voter records show that Crooks was a registered Republican. The upcoming Nov. 5 election would have been the first time Crooks had been old enough to vote in a presidential race.
US President Joe Biden reportedly spoke to his predecessor following the attack. He also cut a wekend stay at his Delaware home short to return to the White House. Officials said that the POTUS would received an updated briefing from homeland security and law enforcement officials upon reaching.
“It's sick. It's one of the reasons we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this…we cannot condone this,” Biden said from Delaware.
(With inputs from agencies)
