Attempted assassination of Donald Trump facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Attempted assassination of Donald Trump |
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Butler Farm Show Grounds (right), 6:01 p.m. EDT, 10 minutes before the shooting
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| Location | Butler Farm Show Grounds in Connoquenessing Twp. |
| Date | July 13, 2024 6:11 p.m. (UTC−04:00) |
| Target | Donald Trump |
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Attack type
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Attempted assassination by gunshot |
| Weapon | AR-15–style rifle |
| Deaths | 2 (including the perpetrator) |
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Non-fatal injuries
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7 (3 from gunfire, including Trump, and 4 officers from debris) |
| Assailant | Thomas Matthew Crooks |
| Motive | Under investigation |
On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump, who used to be the president of the United States, was speaking at a campaign event. This event was held outdoors near Butler, Pennsylvania. During his speech, someone tried to harm him.
Trump was shot and hurt in his upper right ear. The person who shot him was Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks fired eight shots from a rifle from the roof of a nearby building. Sadly, one person in the audience was killed, and two others were seriously injured. Secret Service agents, who protect important people like presidents, quickly shot and killed Crooks.
Videos show Trump touching his ear and hiding behind his lectern (a stand for speaking). Secret Service agents quickly surrounded him to keep him safe. Trump was taken to a hospital, treated, and went home later that day. Two days later, he appeared in public at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, wearing a bandage on his ear.
Many people saw this event as a big security challenge for the Secret Service. It was the most serious incident since the attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981. The head of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, later stepped down from her job. President Joe Biden asked for a review of how security is handled. He also spoke out against violence and asked people to solve disagreements peacefully.
Contents
Understanding the Incident
This section explains how the shooting happened and the actions taken.
How the Shooter Prepared
On July 7, 2024, Thomas Matthew Crooks visited the Butler Farm Show grounds. This was the place where Trump's rally would be held. Crooks spent about 20 minutes there and signed up to attend the rally.
On July 12, Crooks went to a shooting range. He practiced using his rifle, which was an AR-15–style rifle. He had bought this rifle from his father.
The Day of the Event
On July 13, Crooks bought a ladder before driving to the rally site. Police officers were already setting up security around the area. Crooks left the rally site and bought 50 rounds of ammunition. He then drove back to the rally at 3:35 p.m. EDT. He had his rifle and an explosive device in his car.
Crooks did not go through the security checks. This was because he stayed outside the main security area set up by the Secret Service. Around 3:50 p.m., Crooks flew a drone for about 11 minutes. The drone showed the area behind where he would later shoot from.
Police Spot Suspicious Activity
At 4:26 p.m., a local police officer saw Crooks near a warehouse. Police snipers were inside this building. The officer sent a text message to colleagues about Crooks. The officer thought Crooks might know about the police presence.
Later, at 5:14 p.m., another police sniper saw Crooks directly below the warehouse. The sniper took a photo of him. Crooks was seen looking at the rooftop of the building. He was also carrying a golf rangefinder, which worried the officers. The sniper sent pictures of Crooks to other police officers. Officers then tried to find Crooks and keep an eye on him. Crooks ran away and avoided being caught by several officers.
Police officers saw Crooks between 20 and 30 minutes before the shooting. They thought he was acting suspiciously near the event's metal detectors. They told the Secret Service about their concerns over the radio.
The Shooting Begins
Trump arrived on stage at about 6:03 p.m. He began speaking at 6:05 p.m.
At 6:06 p.m., Crooks climbed onto the roof of a building. He used an air-conditioning unit instead of his ladder. He walked across several connected roofs to reach his shooting spot. This spot was about 400 to 450 feet north of the stage. The building had three police snipers inside, but none were on the roof.
Several people nearby saw someone on the roof with a rifle. They quickly told the police about it just minutes before the shots were fired. The way the roof was shaped may have hidden Crooks from Secret Service snipers. Trees also blocked the view from one sniper team.
At 6:08 p.m., a police officer reported over the radio, "Someone's on the roof." Police body camera videos show officers searching for Crooks. A Butler Township police officer tried to climb onto the roof. Crooks saw the officer and aimed his rifle. The officer let go, falling 8 feet and hurting his ankle. This happened about 40 seconds before Crooks started shooting. This was the first time any officer saw that the person on the roof had a gun.
Shots Fired
Crooks started shooting at 6:11:33 p.m. He fired eight shots into the rally. One bullet grazed Trump's upper right ear. Three people in the audience were hit, and one person died.
As the shots were heard, people at the rally yelled "Duck!" Police body camera footage showed how officers reacted. There were moments of confusion and miscommunication.
Two shots were fired at Crooks. The first shot came from a Butler County Emergency Services Unit officer. It hit Crooks's rifle, causing pieces to hit his face and shoulder. This made Crooks stop shooting and move. A Secret Service sniper team, located behind Trump, then fatally shot Crooks. This happened 16 seconds after Crooks started firing.
Trump raised his hand to his ear and then dropped behind his lectern for cover. Secret Service agents quickly jumped to shield him. After the shooter was confirmed to be "down," agents helped Trump up. As he was leaving the stage, Trump told the agents to wait. He then raised his fist and pumped it at the crowd. He mouthed the words "Fight! Fight! Fight!" The crowd cheered and chanted "U-S-A!"
Trump was then taken to a vehicle and driven to Butler Memorial Hospital.
After the Event
Trump was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital right after the shooting. The Secret Service had already told the hospital to prepare for an emergency. The hospital was on lockdown for about three hours. Many police groups, including the FBI and Homeland Security, guarded the entrances. Soon after Trump arrived, the Secret Service confirmed he was safe.
Trump's car left the hospital around 9:30 p.m. EDT. He went to Pittsburgh International Airport and then flew to New Jersey. He spent the night at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Security was increased at Trump Tower and the Republican National Convention after the shooting.
About two hours after arriving at the hospital, Trump shared a message on his social media platform, Truth Social. He thanked the Secret Service and police for their quick response. He also shared his sadness for the person who died and the person who was badly injured at the rally. He mentioned that he was shot in the ear and felt the bullet.
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Trump attended the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 15. He had a bandage covering his entire right ear.
Trump's campaign also started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the people who were hurt or killed at the rally. By July 14, they had raised over $2 million.
See also
In Spanish: Intento de asesinato de Donald Trump para niños
