What we know about the attempt to assassinate Trump

Editor’s note, July 14, 12:40 am: This is a rapidly evolving news story that will be updated with new verified information.

On Saturday, July 13, gunshots rang out as former President Donald Trump addressed a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania. Shortly after, Secret Service agents rushed the stage, and Trump was escorted off — his face smeared with blood.

While many details are still unknown, the FBI confirmed late Saturday night that it was investigating the incident as an assassination attempt on the former president. Trump wrote on Truth Social that a bullet had pierced his upper right ear.

Amid rampant rumor and speculation, here are the facts as we know them right now — and what we still need to learn to fully understand what happened at the rally.

What we know

• The events were televised live on Fox News and CNN. Keeping in mind that video footage from a single angle is sometimes misleading, here is what viewers saw and heard:

• The Secret Service’s latest statement explains, “at approximately 6:15 pm, a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased … One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured.”
• In a statement, the Trump campaign confirmed the former president “is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
• Trump himself posted on Truth Social, “I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.”
• President Joe Biden issued a statement saying, “I’m grateful to hear that [Trump is] safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information … There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
• Biden also briefly addressed the nation, stating, “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. … We cannot condone this.” The Biden presidential campaign has temporarily pulled advertising in the wake of the shooting, and Biden spoke with Trump on Saturday night — although details about that call have not been made public.
• The FBI and Pennsylvania state police held a press conference into early Sunday morning, saying that while they are “not prepared to identify who the shooter is,” they are confident they can make the attempted assassin’s identity public soon. The US Secret Service did not provide an update as part of that event.

What we don’t know

• The shooter’s identity and motive have not been officially announced or confirmed.
• The identities of any other injured or killed audience members at the rally have not been released to the public.
• The weapon or weapons used in the attack, whether firearms or a high-caliber air rifle, have not been identified by investigators.
• The Secret Service has not yet commented on how an armed person or persons were able to come within range of the former president.