Gunshots at Trump Rally

[Radrook]

Very sad to see things like this happening. Makes one worry about what might occur after the elections.

 

[Radrook]

Thank God he is safe, unfortunately, two others are dead.

The whole thing scared me half to death.
I don't think the severity of the situation has hit him as yet.

I think someone took what Biden said "It's time to put Trump in the Bullseye"seriously.

True! It's irresponsible to make such potentially dangerous statements. There are too many people who might take them, literally.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

The ABC News app had coverage. A (former?) soldier who sounded rather young was set to speak. He said he rushed to help the man who was in the bleachers who he realized was deceased when he got to him. With the guidance of the anchor (so that he didn't get too graphic out of respect for the deceased families), he described what he saw, which must've been horrible. I was wondering if the 2 reported dead included the shooter or if there were 2 onlookers after my BFF told me what she had heard.

According to the latest news report, I now know the shooter was included and that 2 others were injured. Of course similarities in the rooftop shootings of JFK, RFK and the biggest mass murder in the U.S., the music festival in Las Vegas, were mentioned.

 

[Mike]

Oh dear, America has a gun problem!

According to the BBC news, somebody saw the shooter climb
onto the roof and told a policeman, the police either didn't do
anything about him, or there were more shooters all around.

Mike.

 

[CallMeKate]

Oh dear, America has a gun problem!

Yes, we know there's a gun problem and there are some separate threads for that discussion. THIS one is about political unrest and an assassination attempt on a former president. I hope this thread doesn't deteriorate into still another gun debate. Assassination attempts worldwide are not done with slingshots... guns are used in a majority of the attempts.

 

[Mike]

Yes, we know there's a gun problem and there are some separate threads for that discussion. THIS one is about political unrest and an assassination attempt on a former president. I hope this thread doesn't deteriorate into still another gun debate. Assassination attempts worldwide are not done with slingshots... guns are used in a majority of the attempts.

Sorry, Kate, I didn't want to get political.

Mike.

 

[hollydolly]

The gunman who shot Donald Trump last night is a 20-year-old registered Republican who donated to Joe Biden.

Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by a US Secret Service sniper after he opened fire on the former President during a rally in Pennsylvania.

His father, Matthew Crooks, 53, told CNN he was trying to figure out 'what the hell is going on' but would 'wait until I talk to law enforcement' before speaking.

Crooks had fired at least eight bullets from a rooftop just 130 yards from where Trump, 78, was on stage in Butler speaking to thousands of fans at 6.15pm.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News that Crooks, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, had been armed with 'an AR-style rifle'.

During the attack, he appeared to be wearing merchandise promoting one of YouTube's most popular channels devoted to firearms - Demolition Ranch - NBC News reported.

Special Agent Kevin Rojek, the FBI officer in charge, said Crooks had been identified using DNA as he was not carrying any ID on him.

State voter records show Crooks was a registered Republican. According to US media, when he was aged 17 he donated $15 to the liberal ActBlue political action committee on January 20, 2021 - Biden's Inauguration Day.
Trump gunman is 20-year-old registered Republican who donated to Biden

 

[hollydolly]

A new photo shows just how close a bullet came to killing Donald Trump during a shooting at his campaign rally.

Trump was seen covered in blood after a shooter, who the FBI has since identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, shot the former president's ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, local time.

The disturbing photo shows a grey line, a moving bullet, flying just inches from Trump's head.

The photo followed a video which showed the life-saving move Trump made just as a bullet whizzed by his head.

Right before he was struck in the ear, Trump turned his head slightly - a lucky head jerk that potentially spared him from graver injuries, or even death.

A moment after the former president slightly moved his head, the bullet appeared to strike him in the ear.

In the top right corner of the video, a fast-moving grey spot, which may be the bullet, appeared at the eight second mark.

At the end of the clip, Trump clapped his hand to the side of his head as blood can be seen above his ear and streaking across his face.

The incredible image was snapped by New York Times photographer, Doug Mills, who recalled it being 'a very standard, typical rally' before the drama unfolded.

'All of a sudden, there was what I thought were three or four loud pops,' he told the New York Times.

'At first I thought it was a car. The last thing I thought was it was a gun. I kept taking pictures. He went down behind the lectern, and I thought, 'Oh my God, something's happened.'

After Trump was apparently struck, he dropped behind the podium and was surrounded by secret service agents, who then ushered the former president off the stage and to his motorcade.

Photo sums up how close Donald Trump came to death

 

[Della]

Thank you, Holly. It wasn't lost on me yesterday that the BBC reported this at least 15 minutes before any of the major American news sources.

I'll be interested in learning what exactly turned this 20 year-old's mind into such a messed up state.

 

[hollydolly]

The failed assassin was shot and killed, but not before killing at least one member of the rally crowd in the terrifying scene at 6.15pm on Saturday.

Two others were critically injured.

Trump was taken to hospital for observation, but a short time later released a heroic statement describing the moment he felt the 'bullet ripping through his skin'.

'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,' the former president wrote on his Truth Social account.

Witnesses described seeing the man armed with a rifle climbing onto the roof of a building 130 yards away and law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle from there.

The suspect fired at least eight shots from outside the security perimeter in an incident that sparked immediate calls for an an investigation into the security failure.

A witness to the assassination revealed he warned Secret Service agents about a man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before they opened fire.

The witness, named only as Greg, told the BBC that he saw the suspected gunman climb into a rooftop outside the event, and was bewildered by the lack of action from agents.

Dramatic new video from the assassination attempt against Donald Trump shows the moment Secret Service sharp shooters fired at the gunman on a roof hundreds of yards away.

Bystanders are seen in the aftermath of the shooting. The man in the blood-splattered white t-shirt is an ER physician who told CBS News that he tried to help a bystander killed in the shooting. The dead bystander was on the ground just behind the man in blood-stained white
Moment Secret Service snipers shoot gunmen who shot Donald Trump

 

[hollydolly]

Thank you, Holly. It wasn't lost on me yesterday that the BBC reported this at least 15 minutes before any of the major American news sources.

I'll be interested in learning what exactly turned this 20 year-old's mind into such a messed up state.

You know what I was wondering Della?... if sometimes in these types of killings or attempted killings..if the target isn't actually the first victim in that shooter actually wanted to commit suicide, and decided they would take the person they hate the most out with them.... in this case DT

 

[Pepper]

........shooter actually wanted to commit suicide, and decided they would take the person they hate the most out with them.... in this case DT

.......Or, be willing to sacrifice his life for his "greater good", his cause? I hope he left writings or videos behind.

Young people, esp. young men, can be very intense.

 

[hollydolly]

.......Or, be willing to sacrifice his life for his "greater good", his cause? I hope he left writings or videos behind.

Young people, esp. young men, can be very intense.

yes that's what we usually think of a an assasin.... but I wonder if in some case the target is not the first victim... but in fact the assassin wants to commit suicide knowing that if they take the object of their hatred with them, they'll have... excuse the pun...killed 2 birds with one stone...

 

[Pepper]

yes that's what we usually think of a an assain.... but I wonder if in some case the target is not the first victim... but in fact the assassin wants to commit suicide knowing that if they take the object of their hatred with them, they'll have... excuse the pun...killed 2 birds with one stone...

There's a term for that: Suicide by Cop

 

[Della]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1812265909727396107

"A witness to the assassination revealed he warned Secret Service agents about a man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before they opened fire.

The witness, named only as Greg, told the BBC that he saw the suspected gunman climb into a rooftop outside the event, and was bewildered by the lack of action from agents."

I'm bringing forward @AnnieA's post above as I think this red-head is probably "Greg." His story and his level of anxiety really takes you there.

------------------
So I guess yesterday's story that what hit Trump was a piece of plastic from his teleprompter is wrong and he really was grazed by a bullet. CNN is saying the gunman wasn't a very good shot and that's what saved Trump.

An FBI expert says that this was a clear failure of security.

 

[MaxHarris]

Just a guess here, but I wonder if that was actually a "real" weapon. I mean, it was his head... a real bullet would have done serious damage, no? It's almost like it was something else... any thoughts? Buckshot? Can that travel very far? Obviously I'm just thinking out loud, but a gun and a bullet to a head/ear isn't going to have someone jumping right back up with a little blood.

I heard on a report the shots were from around 150 yards away. If that's factual I doubt it would have been a shotgun albeit I know next to nothing about firearms.

 

[hollydolly]

"A witness to the assassination revealed he warned Secret Service agents about a man with a rifle on a nearby roof minutes before they opened fire.

The witness, named only as Greg, told the BBC that he saw the suspected gunman climb into a rooftop outside the event, and was bewildered by the lack of action from agents."

I'm bringing forward @AnnieA's post above as I think this red-head is probably "Greg." His story and his level of anxiety really takes you there.

------------------
So I guess yesterday's story that what hit Trump was a piece of plastic from his teleprompter is wrong and he really was grazed by a bullet. CNN is saying the gunman wasn't a very good shot and that's what saved Trump.

An FBI expert says that this was a clear failure of security.

yes the redhead is ''Greg''...

 

[Pappy]

The secret service is so impressive in action. Love the young women.

Me too Della. I think she lost her sunglasses during the melee. She had them on and then she didn’t.

 

[squatting dog]

This whole deal smells of set-up. Protocol was not followed, Communication was lacking, and the fact that the govt. sniper waited until 5-7 shots were fired before responding doesn't pass the smell test. (add in that he was already scoping the suspect). It will be interesting to see what else comes from the "investigation" into the shooters mindset.
Reflecting a bit more.
First, why was a rooftop with a clear field of fire less than 150 yards away not guarded by security?
Second, how was a person with a rifle able to not only avoid detection, but able to climb on a rooftop so close?
Third, if people were pointing out a suspected shooter on a roof, why wasn't there communication to the secret service around the speaker and why was he allowed to go up on the stage at all knowing there was a possibility of a shooting scenario?

 

[Paco Dennis]

It feels auspicious that this shooting took place right after, the enemy's leader is tripping and stammering his way . Now the attention shifts, and the news loud speakers will be turned to 10 about the victim of an assassination attempt!!! Let's make it about killing some more, and gun violence. Whatever happens lets not talk about global warming, homelessness, and a run a way economy.

@squatting dog A lot of speculation has started about it being staged. I would entertain that, but was the bystander really killed? If so, what are those circumstances?

 

[squatting dog]

It feels auspicious that this shooting took place right after, the enemy's leader is tripping and stammering his way . Now the attention shifts, and the news loud speakers will be turned to 10 about the victim of an assassination attempt!!! Let's make it about killing some more, and gun violence. Whatever happens lets not talk about global warming, homelessness, and a run a way economy.

@squatting dog A lot of speculation has started about it being staged. I would entertain that, but was the bystander really killed? If so, what are those circumstances?

I don't think it was a staged deal. In today's society with the many phones recording this event, I'm sure there will eventually be some shots of the other victims.
Another question I have is how did they ID the shooter so quickly? Early this morning, they said the shooter was ID'ed by DNA. (I'm guessing because the head shot left no facial features). That has to be the quickest ID through DNA ever on the planet.

 

[Muskrat]

This will fuel conspiracy theorists for sure. The point that the shooter was destined to die will be lost. The persons who wish to make this a political point for their side…will. What I hope does come of it is to understand that the presidency is not a joke. There is no place in the presidency for hate mongering or support of militant or violent factions. All the inflammatory talk takes roots in odd places. And sometimes breeds violence.

 

[Rakaia]

What I hope does come of it is to understand that the presidency is not a joke.

Oops it's been a joke for a while now, shut the door, the horse has bolted.

 

[Rossana]

People are starting to not want to attend public events because of the unrest in this country. The press contributes a lot into the unrest, in my opnion. Perhaps a nice, peaceful speech from our politicians could help restore some order.

 

[Della]

I don't think it was a staged deal. In today's society with the many phones recording this event, I'm sure there will eventually be some shots of the other victims.
Another question I have is how did they ID the shooter so quickly? Early this morning, they said the shooter was ID'ed by DNA. (I'm guessing because the head shot left no facial features). That has to be the quickest ID through DNA ever on the planet.

Isn't it though. I watch Dateline all the time and it tends to take about 6 months for important DNA to come back. Of course this would be top priority but even so a 20 year old wouldn't be expected to have lots of DNA in the database.

This will fuel conspiracy theorists for sure. The point that the shooter was destined to die will be lost. The persons who wish to make this a political point for their side…will. What I hope does come of it is to understand that the presidency is not a joke. There is no place in the presidency for hate mongering or support of militant or violent factions. All the inflammatory talk takes roots in odd places. And sometimes breeds violence.

Yes, there's been lots of talk about this on the news today, even something like Biden's casual remark that it was time to target Trump -- only meant figuratively as we all know -- can be taken literally by some people.