Trump safe after apparent assassination attempt at rally that left suspect, 1 attendee dead

Donald Trump appeared to be the target of an assassination attempt as he spoke during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, law enforcement officials said.

The former president, his ear covered in blood from what he said was a gunshot, was quickly pulled away by U.S. Secret Service agents and his campaign said he was safe.

A local prosecutor said the suspected gunman who FBIidentified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa. and at least one attendee are dead.The Secret Service said two spectators were critically injured.

Posting on his Truth Social media site about two and a half hours after the shooting, Trump said a bullet "pierced the upper part of my right ear."

"I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shotsand immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin," he said in the post. "Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."

WATCH | This video shows the moment Donald Trump is shot in his right ear:

Apparent assassination attempt made on Donald Trump

2 months ago

Duration 2:27

WARNING: Video shows blood on Donald Trumps face after he is shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt.

The attack, by a shooter who law enforcement officials say was then killed by the Secret Service, was the first attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

It comes amid a deeply polarized political atmosphere, just four months from the presidential electionand days before Trump is to be officially named the Republican nominee at his party's convention in Milwaukee.

"President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act," spokespersonSteven Cheung said in a statement. "He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."

WATCH | Witnesses describe the moment shots were fired and the chaos after:

Witnesses describe moment shooter fired at Trump, and the chaos after

2 months ago

Duration 2:03

Witnesses say the shots fired at former U.S. president Donald Trump appeared to come from outside the area secured by the Secret Service. The FBI said it had taken the lead in investigating the attack.

Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said after 8 p.m. that he spoke to his father on the phone and"he is in great spirits." Trump was then escorted out of the Butler area by police and Secret Service, according toGov. Josh Shapiro.

President Joe Biden, who is running against Trump as the presumptive Democratic nominee this November, says he has been briefed about the incident.

"There's no place in America for this type of violence," Biden said in his remarks. "It's sick."

The White House says Biden has spoken to Trump, and will be returning to Washington, D.C., to receive regular updates from homeland security and law enforcement.

Suspect killed

Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview the suspected gunman was dead and at least one rally attendee was killed. Officials say all victims impacted by the shooting were adult males.

Two officials spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.

WATCH | Motive still to be determined, say officials:

FBI take media questions as they investigate Trump assassination attempt

2 months ago

Duration 8:13

In a late night press conference, the FBI and other members of law enforcement asked the public to share any information with them about the attempt on Donald Trump's life at a rally in Pennsylvania. Hours later they would identify 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa., as the suspect who was killed.

They said the shooter was not an attendee at the rally and was engaged by members of the Secret Service counter-assault team and killed.

The heavily armed tactical team travels everywhere with the president and major party nominees and is meant to confront any active threats while other agents focus on safeguarding and evacuating the person at the centre of protection.

Chaotic scenes

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens on Monday when the shots beganjust after 6:10 p.m. ET.

It took two minutes from the moment of the first shot for Trump to be placed in a waiting SUV.

As Trump was talking, a popping sound was heard, and the former president put his right hand up to his right ear, as people in the stands behind him appeared to be shocked.

As the first pop rang out, Trump said, "Oh," and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard, and he crouched down.More shots are heard then.

Someone could be heard saying near the microphone at Trump's lectern, "Get down, get down, get down, get down!" as agents tackled the former president.

They piled atop him to shield him with their bodies, as is their training protocol, whileother agents took up positions on the stage to search for the threat.

Screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people.

Trump got to his feet moments later and could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face. There appeared to be blood on his face.

He then pumped his fist in the air and appeared to mouth the word "Fight"to his crowd of supporters, prompting loud cheers and then chants of "USA. USA. USA."