The shooting at a rally for former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in a press conference late Saturday night, called the shooting an “assassination attempt” on former President Donald Trump.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Pittsburgh, added that the area remains a crime scene.
“We have numerous investigators on scene and are also working closely with other federal agencies, our state partners and our local law enforcement partners,” he added.
Rojek said the FBI is not ready at this time to identify the shooter.
He added that the FBI had not provided him with any specific threat information related to Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania.
With major questions emerging about security for Trump’s rallies, Rojek said “at this time, the Secret Service was not available for the press conference.”
The Associated Press and CNN both reported the story earlier in the evening, citing police officials as saying the shooting was being investigated as an assassination attempt.AddedTwo company officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Anthony Guglielmi, communications director for the US Secret Service, said the incident is currently considered an “ongoing Secret Service investigation” and that “the Secret Service has implemented protective measures and the former president is safe.”
Gugliemi added:About XThe latest statement, released at 8:50 p.m. EDT, said a suspected gunman fired multiple shots at the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue.
The spokesman added that the Secret Service “neutralized the shooter, who has now died.”
“The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
The Hill has reached out to the Secret Service for further comment.
An ATF spokesperson told The Hill that the agency was responding to assist its Secret Service and other law enforcement partners.
“This is a top priority. We will have no further comment at this time.”
“FBI personnel are on scene in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the FBI will continue to work collaboratively with the U.S. Secret Service as the investigation progresses,” the FBI said in a statement.
In a subsequent statement, the FBI told The Hill that it had assumed the role of lead federal law enforcement in investigating incidents involving Trump.
“Special agents from the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office responded immediately, including members of our Crisis Response Team and Evidence Response Technicians. We will continue to support this investigation with the full resources of the FBI, along with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement.”
The Trump campaign confirmed that the former president was “OK” after a shooting occurred during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
“President Trump thanks the police and emergency responders for their swift action in response to this heinous incident,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Chang said in a statement.
Gunshots rang out at a former president’s event in Pennsylvania on Saturday, killing a suspected gunman and at least one other attendee, according to the Butler County District Attorney’s Office.
Updated July 14, 12:15 a.m.
