Former President Trump was rushed off the stage by Secret Service after shots rang out at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, leaving at least one person dead, two injured and the suspect dead.
Gunfire erupted shortly after President Trump began speaking at a rally at the Butler Farm Show.
The US Secret Service said in a press release that the suspect opened fire from an “elevated position”, killing at least one person and “seriously injuring” two others.
A Secret Service source told Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson that the FBI's elite flying team is en route to Butler to conduct an “assassination investigation.”
Trump returns to Pennsylvania for pre-convention rally in battleground state
Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Moments after the former president began to incite the crowd, five gunshots were heard and he collapsed surrounded by Secret Service agents.
“And then the worst president in our country's history took office. And think about what's happened to our country. Maybe 20 million people died. [came in illegally]”And, you know, this chart is kind of old. This chart is from a few months ago. If you want to see what's really sad, look what just happened,” Trump said before gunshots rang out.
Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
As he was taken away, he had what appeared to be blood on his cheek and right ear and his arms raised in a defiant manner.
As security guards helped Trump to his feet and hurried him off the stage, he could be heard telling them, “Let me get my shoes.”
Donald Trump Jr. told Fox News Digital that his father is under observation at a local hospital but is “doing very well,” and that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee “will never stop fighting to save America.”
“I just spoke to my dad on the phone and he's in great spirits,” Trump Jr. said. “No matter what the radical left attacks on him, my dad will never stop fighting to save America.”
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump sustains a gunshot wound and is rushed off the stage by U.S. Secret Service agents during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the bullet “entered the top of my right ear.”
“I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement for their swift response to the shooting that occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania,” he said. “More than anything, I want to express my condolences to the family of the individual who died at the rally and the family of the other individual who was seriously injured.”
I immediately knew something was wrong…
— Former President Donald Trump
“I can't believe something like this happened in our country. We don't know anything about the perpetrator at this time. He is already deceased. I was shot above my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong as I heard the whoosh and the gunshot and felt the bullet penetrate my skin. I was bleeding heavily and realized what was going on. God Bless America!”
Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Former Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is hurriedly escorted off the stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Protective measures have been taken,” Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
“The incident occurred on the evening of July 13th at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania,” Guglielmi said. “Secret Service procedures are in place and the former president is safe. The Secret Service is currently investigating and more information will be released as it becomes available.”
Former Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is hurriedly escorted off the stage during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump's communications director, Steven Chan, said in a statement that the former president was “in good spirits.”
“President Trump thanks the police and emergency responders for their swift action in response to this heinous incident,” Chang said. “He is in good health and is being examined at a local medical facility.”
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump raises his fist as he is forced into a car during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump is assisted by security guards after shots rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania. (REUTERS/Brendan McDiarmid)
President Biden said in a statement that he had been briefed on the incident and was “praying for him and his family.”
“We have received reports of a shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. I am pleased to hear that Mr. Trump is safe and in good health. As we await more information, I am praying for Mr. Trump, his family and all who were at the rally,” Biden said.
President Joe Biden speaks after news of a shooting at former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign rally in Pennsylvania, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Senator)
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Biden added that there is “no room for this kind of violence in America.”
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety,” he said. “This kind of violence has no place in America, and we must come together as one nation to condemn it.”
Sarah Lampe Whitten is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
She is originally from Massachusetts and is based in Orlando, Florida.
Send your story tips and ideas to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and X. Follow.