Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump campaign rally was interrupted by shots fired Saturday night around 6:12 p.m. ET in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Secret Service buried him at the podium before the sounds from his mic saying "shooter down."
A defiant Trump rose after moments with what looked like blood from his ear, saying "let me get my shoes," holding up a defiant fist and shouting "fight, fight, fight," before he was helped back to the motorcade.
"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 wrote on Truth Social around 2½ hours after the shooting. "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!"
The Secret Service implemented measures around Trump, and an assassination investigation is underway.
Don Trump Jr. said his father is "in good spirits" as he remains under observation adding his father is "never gonna stop."
The shooter was shot by Secret Service and was killed, sources told Newsmax. Two other victims were being transported – one dead and another critical.
Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said Trump was grazed by gunfire but is safe. An audience member was killed, and the shooter is dead. Another person is in serious condition, the prosecutor said.
Goldinger says police told him the shooter was on adjacent building near the rally, and "it would have required a rifle" and "it was several hundred yards."
A blood-stained emergency room doctor at the rally talked about his life-saving efforts for the rally victim, saying he did CPR and saw "brain matter."
We had been told from Pennsylvania police sources that they believe Trump was not struck by a bullet, but hit by glass fragments.
One source told us that they think the teleprompter might have been hit, and that caused the teleprompter glass to hit the former president.
The president wrote on Truth Social it was indeed a bullet he felt.
Video showed a dead body, apparently of the rally attendee victim, being carried out of the rally. A BBC witness said a rifle-carrying man was climbing a roof near the rally.
"The Secret Service blew his head off," the witness said.
The Secret Service confirmed through social media the shooter was shot dead outside of Secret Service's secure rally perimeter.
As Trump was helped to his feet, video showed him clasping his bleeding ear. And there sounded what could have been eight shots fired. There is no detail on how many were from a shooter or the Secret Service and SWAT personnel.
Sounds of screaming and crowd panic were evident as the events unfolded in real time on Newsmax.
Armed law enforcement officers were also seen on a roof near the stage where Trump was standing. The venue was abandoned with chairs knocked over and yellow police tape around the stage and a helicopter flew above and law enforcement walked through the area, according to the video feed.
Trump was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when bangs started ringing through the crowd. Trump could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his neck. There appeared to be blood on his face. He quickly ducked behind the riser as agents from his protective detail rushed the stage and screams rang out from the crowd. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.
"I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania," President Joe Biden wrote in a statement, declining to acknowledge it was an assassination attempt.
"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."
Biden, asked if the Trump shooting was an assassination attempt: "I have an opinion but I don't have any facts."
Reaction poured in quickly and Elon Musk said he will now "fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery."
Biden was briefed on the assassination attempt, but his political critics are noting he might be responsible for inciting political violence.
"I have one job, and that's to beat Donald Trump," Biden said earlier this week. "I'm absolutely certain I'm the best person to be able to do that. So, we're done talking about the debate.
"It's time to put Trump in a bull's-eye."
Former President George W. Bush issued a statement.
"Laura and I are grateful that President Trump is safe following the cowardly attack on his life," it read. "And we commend the men and women of the Secret Service for their speedy response."
Trump's rally had begun with typical excitement and energy.
"With your help, we're going to win Pennsylvania this November," Trump told his crowd in a speech that aired live and in its entirety on Newsmax and the free Newsmax2 streaming platform.
"We're going to defeat Crooked Joe Biden and Laughing Kamala Harris, and we're going to take back the White House, and we're going to take back our country. We're going to take it back.
"Our country has been stolen from us. You see that? One of the greatest crimes is what they've done over four years."
Information from AP and Reuters was used to compile this report.
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