Witnesses described a chaotic scene on Saturday evening after an assassination attempt against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when several shots rang out. He reported having been shot in the ear.
“Former president Trump got up and he had some blood on his face,” a witness told reporters. At first it was unknown if the blood on Trump's face was due to a bullet, glass from the teleprompter or if it was the result of US Secret Service agents tackling him.
One person was reported dead and two others were critically injured, law enforcement reported. The gunman was also killed.
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Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by US Secret Service agents and helped off stage at a campaign rally. AP Photo -
Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler. AP Photo -
Members of the crowd react as US Secret Service agents surround Trump at the campaign event in Butler. AP Photo -
Trump is helped off stage by US Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler. AP Photo -
Trump supporters laying in the stands after shots were fired at the campaign event. AFP -
People scatter after gunfire rang out during the campaign rally in Pennsylvania. AFP -
Trump is rushed off stage after an incident during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. EPA -
Blood is seen in the stands after shots were fired at Trump's campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. AFP -
Trump reacts as shots ring out during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Reuters -
Secret Service agents dive to cover Trump after shots were heard. AP -
Trump is covered by Secret Service agents on stage. AP -
Trump is rushed off stage. EPA -
Trump is shown covered by Secret Service agents. AFP -
Blood can be seen on Trump's head after shots were heard. AFP -
Trump is taken away from rally. ABC/ US Network Pool / Reuters -
Supporters look on as Trump is rushed off stage. EPA -
Trump is pushed into a vehicle by Secret Service agents. AP -
A person is removed by state police from the stands after the shooting. AFP -
Secret Service agents surround the stage. AP -
Secret Service agents patrol after the incident. Reuters -
A Secret Service agent gives directions at the Trump rally. Getty Images / AFP -
The stage after the shooting. Reuters -
People watch the Trump rally on TV. AP -
A monitor displays news from Trump's rally. Bloomberg -
Trump gestures he leaves the stage at the campaign rally. AP Photo
A witness spoke to the media about how he and others nearby had observed the gunman crawling towards the edge of the roof of a building, holding a rifle.
“I'm standing there pointing at him for, you know, two three minutes, Secret Service is looking at us from the top of the barn,” the man told the BBC.
“I'm pointing at that roof … And next thing you know, five shots.”
An emergency physician was in the audience when the shooting began and described finding the person who had been killed.
“I heard the shots. I thought it was firecrackers to begin with,” the man told reporters. “Somebody over there was screaming, 'He's been shot. He's been shot.' So I made my way over. I said, I'm an emergency department, physician, let me help you.”
Another witness said the shooting would only cause more division in an already divided country.
“It's only going to cause more division in this country because of the people who support President Trump, and it's only going to make people hate Joe Biden even more, whether he had anything to do with it or not, and whether the Democratic Party had anything to do with it or not,” the witness told Fox News.
“It seems that they'll do anything to remain in power.”
“They don't want this man to be president because he's trying his hardest to save America, and that's not what they want,” another witness told Fox. “They want America to fall. Yeah, they're scared.”
As police were evacuating people from the area, some people shouted at members of the media, saying: “This is your fault!”
Trump has been a frequent critic of the media, often calling reports he did not agree with "fake news".
