Shooting at Trump rally investigated as attempted assassination

The shooting at former President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa., is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the ex-president.

In a press conference late on Saturday night, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was calling the shooting “an assassination attempt” against former president Donald Trump.

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of FBI field office in Pittsburgh, added that the area is still an active crime scene.

“We have a number of agents on scene. We also are working closely with other federal agencies, our state partners and our local police partners as well,” he added.

Rojek said the FBI was not prepared to identify who the shooter is at this time.

He added that from the FBI did not have any specific threat information related to Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.

“Secret Service wasn’t available for the press conference at this time,” Rojek said, as major questions have arisen about the security at Trump’s rally.

Both The Associated Press and CNN reported the news earlier in the evening, citing law enforcement officials that the shooting was being investigated as an assasination attempt. The AP added that it spoke to two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The U.S. Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said the incident was now being considered an “active Secret Service investigation” and said “Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former President is safe.”

Gugliemi added on X in an updated statement at 8:50 p.m. EDT, that a suspected shooter fired multiple shots at the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue. 

The spokesperson added that the Secret Service “neutralized the shooter, who is deceased.”

“The incident is currently under investigation and Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

The Hill has reached out to the Secret Service for further comment.

The spokesperson for the ATF told The Hill that it is responding to assist the Secret Service and other law enforcement partners.

“This is a top priority. We have no further comment at this time.”

The FBI said its “personnel are on the scene in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the FBI will continue to work jointly with the U.S. Secret Service as the investigation moves forward.”

In a follow-up statement, the FBI told The Hill it has assumed the role of the lead federal law enforcement agency in the investigation of the incident involving Trump.

“Special agents of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office responded immediately, to include crisis response team members and evidence response technicians. We will continue to support this investigation with the full resources of the FBI, alongside our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement.”

The Trump campaign confirmed that the former president is “fine” after the shooting took place during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. 

An apparent shooter as well as at least one attendee have died after apparent shots rang out at the former president’s event in Pennsylvania on Saturday, according to the Butler County district attorney.

Updated at 12:15 a.m. July 14