Trump wounded in shooting in Pennsylvania

**Updated 7-17

On Saturday, former President Donald J. Trump (R) was wounded in an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was hit in the ear while addressing supporters at the rally. Had the bullet been an inch and a half to the right Trump would almost certainly have been killed.

The shooter has been killed by law enforcement. An AR-15 style rifle was recovered at the scene. The shooter reportedly fired eight rounds from a rooftop reportedly 250 yards away

The media is reporting that an innocent attendee of the rally has been killed. Two other attendees were seriously wounded and are in critical condition.

The former President is receiving medical treatment for his wound, but has released a statement on Truth Social

"I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

Trump went down when shot and then was surrounded by members of the Secret Service. When he was allowed to stand, the former President pumped his fist to let the crowd know that he was ok.

The President's son Donald Trump Jr. released a statement after meeting with his father at the medical facility.

"I just spoke to my father on the phone, and he is in great spirits," Trump Jr. said in a statement. "He will never stop fighting to save America, no matter what the radical left throws at him."

The shooter has been identified as a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Police, in a midnight EDT press conference, said that the three victims were all adult males. No motive for the senseless attack has been ye identified.

President Joseph R. Biden (D) spoke to the press within an hour of the assassination attempt on President Trump.

"Look, there's no place in America for this kind of violence," said Biden. "It's sick. It's sick. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this," he said, adding, "Everybody must condemn it."

Biden said that he hoped to speak with "Donald" later tonight.

The shooter has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks - nursing home cook who had just received his associates degree in May. Crooks was armed with a generic AR-15 style rifle.

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