Current:Home > NewsA timeline of the assassination attempt on former President Trump -FinanceCore
A timeline of the assassination attempt on former President Trump
View
Date:2025-04-25 00:20:33
Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally Saturday that set off panic as a bloodied Trump was surrounded by Secret Service and hurried into his vehicle.
A former fire chief attending the rally with family was killed, as was the gunman. Two other people were critically wounded.
An AP analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from the scene of the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, 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.
Here’s what’s known so far about the timeline of the shooting.
6:02 p.m. ET
Trump takes the stage to the strains of “God Bless the U.S.A.” He waves at the cheering crowd and begins his regular rally speech, with spectators both in front of him and behind him on risers.
Around 6:10 p.m.
— After rally-goers notice a man climbing on the top of the roof of a nearby building, a local law enforcement officer climbs to the roof, according to two law enforcement officials.
— A man identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks points his rifle at the officer, who retreats down the ladder, the officials said.
— Crooks then quickly fires, according to the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Democracy: American democracy has overcome big stress tests since 2020. More challenges lie ahead in 2024.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
- We want to hear from you: If you didn’t vote in the 2020 election, would anything change your mind about voting?
- Read the latest: Follow AP’s live coverage of this year’s election.
— Trump is showing off border-crossing numbers when gunfire begins.
— As the first pop rings out, Trump says, Oh,” and raises his hand to his right ear and looks at it, before quickly crouching to the ground behind his lectern.
— Secret Service agents rush to the stage and pile atop the former president to shield him.
— Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former fire chief attending the rally, is shot and killed. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday that Comperatore used his body as a shield to protect his wife and daughter.
— Secret Service counter snipers fire back and shoot Crooks.
About 1 minute after the shots
— Video shows Trump getting to his feet and reaching with his right hand toward his face, which was smeared with blood.
— As Trump stands up, he pumps to the crowd with his right fist.
— He appears to mouth the word “fight” twice to his crowd of supporters, prompting loud cheers and then chants of “USA. USA. USA.”
About 2 minutes after the shots
Trump turns back to the crowd and again raises a fist right before agents put him into a vehicle and he is taken to a local hospital.
6:50 p.m.
Secret Service says “the former President is safe.”
8:42 p.m.
Trump posts on his social media site that he was injured in the upper part of his 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,” he said.
About 12:10 a.m.
Trump’s private jet lands at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Video posted by an aide showed the former president deplaning, flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter assault team. It was an unusually visible show of force by his protective detail.
Trump travels to his private golf club in nearby Bedminster, New Jersey, to spend the night.
___
Stengle contributed to this report from Dallas. Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report from Chicago and writer Colleen Long contributed to this report from Washington.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- A Rolex seller meets up with a Facebook Marketplace thief. It goes all wrong from there
- Top U.N. court won't dismiss Israel genocide case but stops short of ordering Gaza cease-fire
- Princess Kate returns home after abdominal surgery, 'is making good progress,' palace says
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- What Would The Economy Look Like If Donald Trump Gets A Second Term?
- Super Bowl bound! Taylor Swift shares a kiss with Travis Kelce as Chiefs defeat Ravens: See pics
- Regional group says Venezuela’s move against opposition candidate ends possibility of free election
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- How Taylor Swift Can Make It to the Super Bowl to Support Travis Kelce
Ranking
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Disposable vapes will be banned and candy-flavored e-cigarettes aimed at kids will be curbed, UK says
- Inflation has slowed. Now the Federal Reserve faces expectations for rate cuts
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson can't hide his disappointment after stumbling against Chiefs
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Kate Middleton Released From Hospital After Abdominal Surgery
- What Would The Economy Look Like If Donald Trump Gets A Second Term?
- Will Taylor Swift attend Super Bowl 58 to cheer on Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce?
Recommendation
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Morpheus8 Review: Breaking Down Kim Kardashian's Go-To Skin-Tightening Treatment
Small biz owners scale back their office space or go remote altogether. Some move to the suburbs
70 Facts About Oprah Winfrey That Are Almost as Iconic as the Mogul Herself
Travis Hunter, the 2
A Klimt painting that was lost for nearly 100 years after being confiscated by Nazis will be auctioned
AI companies will need to start reporting their safety tests to the US government
Trial set to begin for 2 accused of killing Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay over 20 years ago