Donald Trump shooting - here's how the former president's assassination attempt unfolded

Shortly after the 78-year-old took to the stage, a series of shots were fired and he dropped to the ground, his ear covered in blood, in an attack that is set to have a major implications for this year’s White House race.

Sunday 14 July 2024 22:28, UK

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A man has attempted to kill Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

As shots rang out, the former president dropped to the ground with his ear covered in blood and was swiftly rushed off-stage by security staff.

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One spectator was killed and two others were seriously injured in the attack.

The gunman, who has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service at the scene.

Here's how the incident unfolded minute by minute:

6.03pm (11.03pm UK time) - Mr Trump took to the stage of his campaign rally in Butler, a city about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. He waved to the crowd as God Bless the USA played, and quickly started speaking.

6.11pm (11.11pm) - Multiple shots were fired toward the stage. Mr Trump grabbed his ear and then dropped to the ground.

In footage of that moment, which you can watch below, someone could be heard shouting "fire, fire, fire".

6.12pm (11.12pm) - Secret Service agents jumped on top of the 78-year-old to shield him. "Are we good to move", someone could be heard saying.

"Let me get my shoes," Mr Trump said, before telling the agents to wait while he raised a defiant fist to the crowd.

He was then bundled off the stage and into a waiting armoured car.

6.14pm (11.14pm) - Mr Trump's motorcade left the event

6.42pm (11.42pm) - The Secret Service confirmed an incident at the rally and that Mr Trump was "safe".

7.03pm (12.03am) - Trump's campaign team issued a statement confirming he was "fine" and being checked at a local medical facility.

7.10pm (12.10am) - Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said there had been reports one man in the crowd had been killed in the incident.

7.28pm (12.28am) - The person believed to be the gunman was confirmed dead by Mr Goldinger. He also confirmed an audience member had been killed and another person was in critical condition.

7.50pm (12.50am) - Law enforcement officials told the Associated Press news agency that the shooting was being investigated as an assassination attempt.

7.55pm (12.55am) - US President Joe Biden released a statement saying he had been briefed on the incident and was praying for Trump.

"Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There's no place for this kind of violence in America," he said.

"We must unite as one nation to condemn it."

Around 20 minutes later, he held a short televised briefing where he said he was trying to call Mr Trump to speak to him as soon as possible.

"The rally should have been able to be conducted peacefully without any problems. But the idea, the idea that there's political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of - it's just not appropriate," he said.

"Everybody must condemn it, everybody."

8.15pm (1.15am) - Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "appalled" by the "shocking scenes" at the rally. "Political violence in any form has no place in our societies, and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack," he added.

8.42pm (1.42am) - Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social site saying he had been shot in the upper part of his right ear and "much bleeding took place".

He thanked the Secret Service for their "rapid response" and sent his condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed.

"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," he said.

"It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country."

9.02pm (2.02am) - Sky News received a full statement from the US Secret Service which confirmed there had been "multiple" gunshots fired at the rally and they came from outside the venue.

Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the gunman had been "neutralised". He also said two spectators had been critically injured.

9.27pm (2.27am) - An aerial photo of a building just 150m away from where Mr Trump gave his speech emerged. A rifle and a body could be seen on the roof.

10.09pm (3.09am) - The White House said Mr Biden was returning to Washington from his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

11.19pm (4.19am) - Mr Trump left the Butler area under the protection of the Secret Service and state police, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro said.

11.30pm (4.30am) - Mr Biden boarded Air Force One to return to Washington DC after speaking to Trump about the shooting.

11.41pm (4.41am) - Sky News' US partner network NBC reported the gunman had been identified as a male aged around 20 years old.

11.53pm (4.53am) - Law enforcement officials held a news conference saying they were treating the incident as an assassination attempt against Mr Trump.

FBI special agent Kevin Rojeck said a motive had not been identified, and officials were close to confirming the gunman's identity.

He added that "suspicious packages" were found near where the gunman had positioned himself, and bomb assets had been deployed out of an "abundance of caution".

12.35am (5.35am) - Mr Biden arrived back in Washington, landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

12.50am (5.50am) - Mr Trump was pictured for the first time since the attack. His campaign team posted a video of him walking down the steps of a plane after flying to New Jersey from Pennsylvania.

1.37am (6.37am) - The FBI named the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. In a statement, investigators said he was "neutralised" at the scene, but that the investigation was still ongoing.

Donald Trump shooting - here's how the former president's assassination attempt unfolded

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