Trump 'fine' after shooting incident during rally: campaign
Xinhua | Updated: 2024-07-14 09:16
NEW YORK -- Former US President Donald Trump is "fine" and being checked out at a local medical facility after the shooting incident during a rally, his campaign said in a statement.
Trump was rushed off the stage at a rally in Butler in the US state of Pennsylvania on Saturday after gunshots rang out through the crowd.
Blood could be seen on the side of his head and his ear as he was escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents, video footage showed.
The suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed, local media reported, quoting Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger.
Popping sounds rang out over the rally a few minutes after Trump began his speech.
Screams could be heard in the crowd, and Trump held up his fist to the crowd while he was escorted away from his rally and into a vehicle.
"The former president is safe," Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement posted on X.
"An incident occurred the evening of July 13 at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe. This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available," the statement said.
US President Joe Biden, who is in Delaware for the weekend, has been briefed on the situation, reports said.
The incident occurred only two days before the Republican National Convention, scheduled to kick off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Monday, during which Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate for the Nov 5 election.