On Saturday July 13, around 6:10 p.m. shots were fired at former President Donald Trump while campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was discussing a chart of border crossing numbers when loud pops were heard and chaos ensued.

Trump grabbed for his right ear before crouching to the ground. Screams could be heard from the audience behind Trump. Secret Service agents then rushed to the stage to block the line of sight of the former president.

Once the agents received word that the shooter was down, they brought Trump to his feet and began escorting him to a vehicle. Trump told the agents to wait several times while he grabbed his shoes, pumped his fist in the air, and mouthed the word "fight". Blood appeared to be coming from Trump's right ear and streaked across his face.

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Early reports from the Pennsylvania State Police stated that Trump was hit by a piece of glass from the teleprompter screens on either side of him. However, Trump stated on Truth Social that he was grazed by a bullet and videos of the stage appear to show both teleprompters intact.

A man named Corey Comperatore was killed and two others were critically wounded in the shooting.

The Shooter: Thomas Matthew Crooks

While initial reports and social media posts named several people as the potential shooter, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has officially named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the shooter.

Crooks was 20 years old and had graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. Records indicate Crooks was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania. Federal campaign finance reports reportedly show he also donated $15 to a progressive political action committee (PAC) on President Joe Biden's inauguration day in January 2021.