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Trump shot in right ear at campaign rally

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump is assisted by U.S. Secret Service personnel after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 13, 2024.

Photo credit: Reuters

Gunfire erupted at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, sparking panic in the crowd as Secret Service agents rushed in to swarm around the Republican presidential candidate.

Trump emerged with blood on his right cheek and ear, and he defiantly pumped his fist in the air before being ushered to a waiting car.

The shooter was dead and the Secret Service was investigating the shooting as an assassination attempt, a source told Reuters.

The Secret Service and the former president's campaign said Trump was safe following the shooting.

Another person was in critical condition, said a Washington Post reporter on social media, citing the Butler County district attorney.

The shooter’s identity and motives were not immediately clear.

The shooting occurred less than four months before the November 5 election, when Trump faces Democratic President Joe Biden.

The Secret Service assists Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 13, 2024.

Photo credit: Reuters

Update

Trump was safe, the U.S. Secret Service and his campaign have said.

Multiple shots rang out at a rally by the Republican presidential candidate in Pennsylvania as video showed Trump grimacing and raising a hand to his right ear.

Trump was shot in the right ear, sparking panic and streaking the Republican presidential candidate's blood across his face, before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air appearing to mouth the words "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed and two other spectators were injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt, a source told Reuters.

"The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former president is safe," a spokesperson for the agency said on X after what it called an incident. "This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available."

Trump, 78, had just started his speech when the shots rang out. He grabbed his right ear with his right hand, then brought his hand down to look at it before dropping to his knees behind the podium before Secret Service agents swarmed and covered him.