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Topics: Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Crime, Police, US News
Ella Scott
Topics: Donald Trump, Gun Crime, Crime, Police, US News
A Donald Trump rally attendee has claimed the former US President made a life-changing move just seconds before his ear was grazed by a bullet.
On Saturday (July 13), Trump, 78, was rushed off stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, after multiple gunshots sounded at an outdoor rally.
The businessman later confirmed on social media he’d been ‘pierced’ by a bullet in the ‘upper part of [his] right ear’ and that ‘much bleeding took place’.
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The Secret Service has since stated that the shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, from Bethel Park in Pennsylvania, had fired ‘multiple shots’ towards the stage from outside the rally venue.
“US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.
“US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated.”
According to a rally attendee named Vanessa, she believed things could have been a lot different if Trump hadn’t ‘moved his head’ at the very last minute.
“We were six rows back, straight in front of him at his podium. We could see him really good,” she told NBC News.
“He was talking about his chart and he moved his head to the right to explain where they’re at in the chart.
“But as he moved his head to look at the chart up on the screen that’s when he got grazed in the ear.”
She alleged that if the father-of-five had ‘not moved his head at the nick of time’ the incident could have ‘been a lot worse’.
Doubling down on Vanessa’s recount of the event, broadcaster Dasha Burns explained that the referred to chart was a graph highlighting immigration rates under the Biden administration.
“He turned to point to that chart and that is when his ear was grazed,” the 32-year-old said.
“But to Vanessa’s point, if he hadn’t made that turn to show that chart things could’ve been a lot different.”
Following the incident, the FBI confirmed that one male victim had died during the attempted assassination while two others in attendance at the rally were critically injured.
According to the BBC, Trump was taken to hospital after his ear was injured but has since been discharged to return to his home in New Jersey.
Following up on the star’s health, The Republican National Committee added that he is 'doing well' and is 'grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action'.
A statement on its website reads: "President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States. As our party's nominee, President Trump will continue to share his vision to Make America Great Again."
Following the incident, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens discussed the shooter being positioned outside the rally perimeter.
“It is incredibly difficult to have a venue open to the public and to secure that against any possible threat against a very determined attacker,” Bivens told reporters. “That’s a huge lift to try to do.”
Authorities say that an AR-style rifle was recovered from the scene of the gun crime and that a motive for the shooting is yet to be established.