Yahoo News Trump shooting live updates: Details of assassination attempt coming into focus
Federal authorities are investigating after former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Blood splattered on Trump's face as Secret Service agents surrounded him and led him off the stage to a waiting vehicle to whisk him away. Trump is "fine," a spokesperson said.
The alleged shooter was killed by snipers. One spectator was killed and two were hurt, officials said.
Latest Developments
Jul 16, 10:20 AM
Feds warn of possible 'follow-on or retaliatory' attacks
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have issued a bulletin to law enforcement across the country warning them that, in the wake of Saturday's shooting, violent extremists could try to conduct "follow-on or retaliatory" attacks at events over the next few months related to the 2024 presidential election.
The bulletin urged local, state and federal law enforcement -- and their partners -- to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior.
The bulletin also said that "lone actors" or small groups of extremists "likely will continue to view" political rallies and campaign events as "attractive targets."
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Jul 16, 8:57 AM
Gunman planned to attend local 4-year university this fall
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old suspected gunman, planned to attend Robert Morris University this fall, according to a school spokesperson.
Robert Morris University is a private, four-year university located outside of Pittsburgh.
"We have been in touch with law enforcement and stand ready to assist in their investigation," school spokesperson Brian Edwards said.
Crooks had earned his associate degree in science from a local community college and graduated in May with high honors.
He was accepted into both RMU and the University of Pittsburgh, a public-research university also a close drive from his home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
A spokesperson for the University of Pittsburgh said Crooks was told in February that he could attend this fall semester as a transfer student. In March, Crooks informed Pitt that he would not attend.
-ABC News’ Anne Flaherty
Jul 16, 6:27 AM
Visual Timeline: How the assassination attempt unfolded
Jul 15, 9:56 PM
Suspected gunman purchased 50 rounds of ammunition day of shooting: Officials
The suspected gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his campaign rally Saturday purchased 50 rounds of ammunition ahead of the event, according to a bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI Monday.
Thomas Matthew Crooks purchased the rounds from a gun and ammunition shop in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, according to officials.
The bulletin notes that two improvised explosive devices were found in the shooter's car and one at his home.
"Over the last several months, Crooks received several packages, including some marked as possibly containing hazardous material, according to a review of his shipping history," officials wrote.
Officials also warn of future "follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence in response to this assassination attempt."
"We cannot rule out the possibility that some DVEs (Domestic violent extremists) or other actors may attempt follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence in response to this assassination attempt."
-ABC News' Mike Levine
Jul 15, 8:58 PM
Suspected Trump shooter graduated from community college with 'high honors'
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected gunman in the deadly campaign rally shooting Saturday, did not have any disciplinary problems while attending community college and graduated with "high honors," the school said in a statement Monday.
Crooks, 20, graduated from Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in May of this year and majored in Engineering Science, according to the college.
"This individual graduated from CCAC with high honors on May 16, 2024, and was conferred an Associate in Science degree," spokesperson Dena Rose Buzila said in a statement. "In addition, based upon our preliminary review, CCAC has no records relating to any disciplinary, student conduct or security-related incidents involving the identified individual."
Jul 15, 8:35 PM
Trump family member will attend shooting victim Corey Comperatore's funeral
Eric Trump said there is "no question" that a Trump family member will attend the funeral of Corey Comperatore, who was shot and killed at the campaign rally on Saturday.
During an interview with Fox News on Monday night at the Republican National Convention, Eric called Comperatore's death "unthinkable," adding, "This is a person who loved Donald Trump, his family. He jumped on his children. It's unthinkable what happened there."
Comperatore, 50, was a firefighter and a father of two daughters, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday. He was from Sarver, Pennsylvania.
Comperatore "died a hero" when he "dove on his family" to protect them from the gunfire during the rally, his wife said, according to Shapiro.
Eric Trump said that the GoFundMe page created for Comperatore's family was close to reaching $5 million.
Jul 15, 8:30 PM
Eric Trump indicates Secret Service director should step down after shooting
In his first interview since Donald Trump was shot at a rally Saturday, Eric Trump was asked if U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle should stay in her position.
"The head [of the Secret Service]? No, they should have had more resources," Trump said.
"Listen, at the end of the day, we can't get past the fact that somebody should not have gotten on a roof 130 yards away from the president of the United States -- you know, ex-president of the United States, and soon to be president of the United States, with a high power rifle; that's inexcusable," Trump said.
Speaking with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, Cheatle called the shooting "unacceptable," saying, "it's something that shouldn't happen again."
In the days since the attack, Cheatle and the Secret Service have faced heightening scrutiny for failing to prevent the incident from happening, and even calls from some to resign.
Cheatle said she would not resign from her role.
Jul 15, 7:29 PM
Biden addresses trajectory of 2024 election after assassination attempt on Trump
President Joe Biden weighed in on if the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump will impact the trajectory of the 2024 election.
In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt, Biden was asked if he believes that this shooting has "changed the trajectory of this race," to which Biden said, "I don't know. And you don't know either."
"I've thought less about the trajectory of the race than two things. One, what his [Trump] health is. That was secure. Number one. And number two, what happens from here on in terms of the kind of coverage that the president and vice president and former president and new vice president get," Biden said.
The president was also asked about his phone call with Trump after this past weekend's shooting, which he described as a "very cordial" conversation.
"I told him how concerned I was and wanted to make sure I knew how he was actually doing. He sounded good. He said he was fine. And he thanked me for calling him. I told him he was literally in the prayers of Jill and me and I hoped his whole family was weathering this," Biden said.
-ABC News’ Justin Gomez
Jul 15, 7:12 PM
Secret Service director says police were inside building shooter was positioned on
In her first network interview since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle offered insight into the logistics surrounding the deadly shooting Saturday.
"It was unacceptable," she said in an interview Monday with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas. "And it's something that shouldn't happen again."
Cheatle said that local authorities were tasked with securing the building where the alleged shooter fired the shots before being taken out by a Secret Service sniper, and confirmed that local police were present inside the building while the shooter was on the roof.
"In this particular instance, we did share support for that particular site and that the Secret Service was responsible for the inner perimeter," Cheatle said. "And then we sought assistance from our local counterparts for the outer perimeter. There was local police in that building -- there was local police in the area that were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building."
She is expected to testify before the GOP-led House Oversight Committee next Monday, July 22.
-ABC News' Julia Reinstein
Jul 15, 5:49 PM
Trump tells ABC News assassination attempt had 'impact'
Former President Donald Trump shared an update with ABC News' Jonathan Karl on how his right ear is recovering and said the assassination attempt at his campaign rally Saturday had "impact."
When asked if the close call to the bullet striking his head "changed him," Trump said, "I don’t like to think about that, but, yes, I think has an impact."
Trump said his ear is doing fine and that he hopes the bandage will be off by the time he speaks on Thursday at the Republican National Convention.
