13.07.2024, later in the afternoon
Hundreds of Trump supporters wait at Butler Farms in Pensilvania for his expected speech at a campaign rally.
5:07 p.m.
Suspected gunman appears to pace around buildings outside of the rally’s security perimeter.
5:07 p.m.
Two teams of Secret Service snipers take their positions on two buildings located behind the rally stage. One team was set up on top of the building closest to the complex where the gunman was positioned. They appear to be tasked with covering the north and are seen facing in that direction. A second counter-sniper team is seen setting up on another building to the south. The two snipers appear to be tasked with looking in the opposite direction from where the shooter will be located.
5:10 p.m.
The suspect was identified as a person of interest.
5:30 p.m.
The suspect was spotted with a rangefinder.
5:52 p.m.
The Secret Service spotted the suspected gunman on the roof of a nearby building outside of the security perimeter.
6:05 p.m.
Trump took the event stage just after 6 p.m. local time as supporters cheered for the former president. Trump walked to the podium and began speaking to the audience.
6:09 p.m.
Two minutes before the first gunshots, the counter sniper team positioned farther south is seen turning north toward the suspected gunman. In the next minute, they begin to move into position, kneeling down, grabbing their weapons and pointing them in the direction of the suspect.
6:09 p.m.
At the same time, several witnesses noticed a gunman on the roof. The gunman was positioned approximately 400 feet away from the former president. Onlookers then called for police.
6:10 p.m.
During the minute before the shooting began, law enforcement officers appeared to be searching for the suspected gunman. A bystander captured what appears to be local law enforcement walking around the structure the suspected shooter was positioned on.
6:11 p.m. Gunfire erupts
Trump was eight minutes into his speech when the shooting began. The former president was cut off by the loud popping sounds of shots being fired and a rally attendee yelling, „He’s got a gun!“ „He’s on the roof! He’s got a gun!“
6:11 p.m.
As shots rang out and the event erupted into panic, Trump was seen clutching his right ear and ducking behind the podium. Three Secret Service agents swarmed to cover Trump, yelling, „Get down!“ as multiple additional rounds of gunshots were fired. Blood was seen smeared across the former president’s face and onto his hand. The shooter fired as many as eight rounds from an AR-style rifle while perched on a rooftop adjacent to the venue and was 200-300 yards away at the time of the shooting.
6:12 p.m.
1 spectator killed, 2 others critically injured; gunman also killed
6:12 p.m.
Secret Service agents swiftly escorted Trump off the rally stage and into a waiting vehicle. There appeared to be blood on Trump’s right ear and he could be seen mouthing „fight“ and pumping his fist.
6:14 p.m.
Trump’s black SUV departs Butler Farms and takes him to the nearest hospital, Butler Memorial Hospital, approximately 11 miles away.
6:42 p.m.
Trump’s Secret Service detail issued a statement saying he was safe after the incident. Trump „is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility“.
Source:
Napoleon Dynamite by Jared Hess, 2004
bbc.com, Anthony Zucher, 14.07.2024
abcnews.com, Leah Sarnoff, 18.07.2024