Pittsburgh – A new report into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally on July 13 has found that the first of eight bullets fired by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks likely struck the Republican candidate in the ear.
of The New York Times The police department reported Friday that its own analysis of bullet trajectories and video, audio and photographic evidence “strongly suggests” that the gunman’s first shot “grazed” Trump’s ear.
At least three bullets came close to seriously wounding the former president, the paper’s analysts said.
Trump, who was photographed from multiple angles bleeding from the right side of his head in the seconds after the assassination attempt left one supporter dead and two seriously injured, has maintained since the night of the attack that it was a bullet that hit him.
Timeline: Trump assassination attempt
Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump waves as he is led off the stage surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Jean J. Puskar)
However, investigators suggest it may have been wreckage.
“We’re in question whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that struck his ear,” FBI Director Christopher Wray testified at a House of Representatives hearing this week.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
But the director’s comments prompted a fierce response from President Trump himself earlier this week, who slammed Wray on his social media platform, Truth Social.
FBI wants to question Trump after assassination attempt, sources say
Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress yesterday that he doesn’t know whether I was hit by shrapnel, glass or a bullet (the FBI wouldn’t even check!), but he is certain that the villainous Joe Biden was physically and cognitively ‘at peace.’ That is false!” wrote Trump, who nominated Wray for director in 2017.
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After the U.S. Secret Service returned fire during the assassination attempt on former President Trump, authorities approached the suspected shooter from the spot where he fell. (Source: Fox News Digital)
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana told NBC News on Thursday that evidence shows it was a bullet that penetrated Trump’s ear and that Wray has “a credibility issue.”
“We’ve all seen the video, we’ve seen the analysis, we’ve all heard from multiple sources, multiple angles, that the bullet went through his ear,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure that’s all that significant.”
Cops reported man with rangefinder at Trump rally 30 minutes before assassination attempt: Sources
The FBI told Fox News Digital on Thursday that its priority is learning more about the reclusive 20-year-old attempted assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, and his motives.
“From the day of the attack, the FBI has consistently and unequivocally maintained that this shooting was an attempted assassination of former President Trump, resulting in the wounding of the president, the death of a heroic father, and the injury of several other victims,” the spokesman said.
Thomas Matthew Crooks is the alleged perpetrator of the attempted assassination of former President Trump on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Source: Fox News Digital)
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“FBI Director Wray provided detailed testimony before Congress on Wednesday about the FBI’s investigation. This was a heinous attack, and the FBI is dedicating enormous resources to learning everything we can about the shooter and what led to this act of violence.”
Former President Trump arrives at the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
However, the FBI’s shooting reconstruction team was still examining evidence from the scene, including recovered bullet fragments.
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Fox News’ Scott MacDonald contributed to this report.
