Shots fired at Trump

[Tribble]

Attendee killed, Trump whisked away after gunfire erupts at campaign rally

Former U.S. president appeared to have blood on his face following chaos

Donald Trump's campaign said in a statement that the former president was "fine" after a shooting at his rally in Butler, Pa., on Saturday. A local prosecutor says the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead.

"President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act," spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement. "He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow."

The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement that "the former president is safe."

Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said in a phone interview that the suspected gunman was dead and that at least one rally attendee was killed.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers during his last rally before the Republican National Convention opens in Milwaukee on Monday when the shots began.

As the first pop rang out, Trump said, "Oh," and grabbed his ear as two more pops could be heard, and he crouched down.

Someone could be heard saying near the microphone at Trump's lectern, "Get down, get down, get down, get down!" as agents tackled the former president. They piled atop him to shield him with their bodies, as is their training protocol, as other agents took up positions on the stage to search for the threat.

Screams were heard in the crowd of several thousand people. The bangs continued as agents tended to him on stage.

Trump got to his feet moments later and could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face. There appeared to be blood on his face.

The crowd cheered as he got back up and pumped his fist.

His motorcade left the venue moments later.

Police began vacating the fairgrounds shortly after Trump left the stage in what local officers described as a crime scene.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the incident, the White House said. He received an updated briefing from Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall.

eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., posted a photo of Trump on X, formerly Twitter, his fist raised and his face bloody in front of an American flag, with the words: "He'll never stop fighting to Save America."

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the three men on Trump's short list for vice-president, all quickly sent out statements expressing concern for the former president, with Rubio sharing an image taken as Trump was escorted off the stage with his fist in the air and a streak of blood on his face, along with the words "God protected President Trump."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said in a statement on X that he had been briefed on the situation and that Pennsylvania state police were on hand at the rally site.

"Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable. It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States," he said.

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7263122

[Mr Bean]

I've heard this news
But were are currently in the wild media speculation phase, give it 8 hours and we might know somewhat true information.

[Darth Yan]

Honestly, a part of me wants the guy to have succeeded. After all the horrible things Trump's done there would be an element of karmic justice to it.

[Zwinmar]

Main who calls for violence against his opponents is subject to the same, shocking I say, shocking.

[Tribble]

And of course, the same people who supported “hang Mike Pence” and raiding the Capitol are wasting no time blaming Biden and the Democrats for “inciting violence,” if not outright ordering an assassination.

[bilateralrope]

And of course, the same people who supported “hang Mike Pence” and raiding the Capitol are wasting no time blaming Biden and the Democrats for “inciting violence,” if not outright ordering an assassination.

Biden ordering an assassination would be legal after the SCOTUS immunity ruling.

Though I expect the shooter is just some lone nutcase, maybe part of a small group. Time will tell which side the shooter is on.

[Elfdart]

Turns out the shooter is a registered Republican and was wearing a gun club T-shirt. Maybe he realized that Il Douchebag tried to have his own VP lynched and decided to carry out a preemptive attack.

There is a kind of odd parallel here:

Disgruntled Dems are working to remove their party's candidate through slimy, back room shenanigans, while a disaffected member of the GOP tried to accomplish the same thing with an AR-15. This is the main difference between the parties.

[Zaune]

Main who calls for violence against his opponents is subject to the same, shocking I say, shocking.

They who live by the sword, die by the sword.

[bilateralrope]

Turns out the shooter is a registered Republican and was wearing a gun club T-shirt. Maybe he realized that Il Douchebag tried to have his own VP lynched and decided to carry out a preemptive attack.

Hopefully the shooter left a manifesto that makes his motivations clear. Just to cut down on people making up whatever motivations they find convenient.

[Darth Yan]

He donated to Act Blue when he was 17, but seemed to be a registered Republican at the time of his death. If his motives were conservative in nature that might hopefully defuse the inevitable conspiracy theories against the Dems.

[Tribble]

Unfortunately this is 2024, and it’s not so easy to diffuse the conspiracy theories:

Cool heads needed as political fringe dwellers spread disinformation after Trump shooting

Partisans on the left and the right are weaponizing the attack and spreading lies faster than journalists can offer facts to counter them.

Disinformation researcher Amanda Rogers has described the polarized, unhinged, conspiracy-driven noise in social media responses to the shooting of Donald Trump as “a self-sustaining spiral of shit”.
Rogers, a fellow at the progressive thinktank Century Foundation, has seen this before. But the scale is new and troubling, she said. Conversation on social media – and the mainstream media – is focused on the motivations of the shooter and the impact on the election, she said. Bad actors want to turn a moment like this into a broader call for violence. And they will spread lies to get there, she said.

“The fact that this is the perfect storm environment for dis-info from every single point on the political spectrum, is something that worries me immensely,” Rogers said. “Because it’s an accelerationist’s wet dream … But we need to have voices in the media that are speaking to the fact that this is a breaking situation. People need to calm down about speculation.”

Accelerationists are those on the political fringes – right and left – who want a civil war to burn the country to ash so they can start anew from the rubble. Notably, the term “Civil War” began trending in the wake of the Trump shooting.

Social media was instantly flooded with hyperbole, lies, conspiracy theories and uninformed nonsense about the shooting. The commentary ranged from suggestions on the right like those of Georgia representative Michael Collins that the president, Joe Biden, solicited the violence and should be charged with a crime, to those on the left suggesting that the shooting is a hoax meant to bolster Trump’s flagging poll figures.

Reasonable questions about whether the Secret Service missed something become conspiracies about whether Biden deliberately withheld competent protection for Trump, said Jonathan Corpus Ong, a disinformation researcher and professor of communications at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

video
“I think it’s normal for people to be speculating, and kind of like trying to make sense of what happened,” he said. “I think it’s important for any journalist or any reader to be very critical of what they see in the media and what they’re reading, to take it slow as well … I think we would not want to be swept up with fear, because that would get us into a state of distrust in other people as well. It’s important to be vigilant with what we consume, and also learn when to step back from fear-mongering narratives.”

Factchecking the deep fakes

AI further complicates the reaction to breaking news events.

Some images from the event are bound to become iconic, like the photograph taken by Evan Vucci of the Associated Press of Trump, fist raised and ear bloodied, an American flag waving behind him as Secret Service officers sweep him from the area.

But others from questionable sources could be swiftly fabricated. There’s value in comparing pictures from multiple sources at the event, or noting which agencies are distributing them, Ong said.

“You would like to see videos and a news account and analysis, to have multiple sources and to be corroborated and verified by multiple experts, in order to make sure that it is authentic in the age of deep fakes,” he said.

The emotional, historic nature of the moment lends itself to manipulation confirming existing biases, “that trigger very strong emotions of fear or anxiety,” Ong said. “I think that’s what we need to be looking at. And be wary of.”

Before the FBI had identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the “subject involved” in the shooting, speculation about the gun and the identity of the alleged shooter had begun. Posts began moving through social media almost immediately, suggesting that the shooter used a BB gun, or alternatively that the weapon was a “ghost gun” built from 3D-printed parts.

Police later said they recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene.

Neither claim could be immediately substantiated. Each claim serves a partisan narrative, either that the shooting was a hoax or evidence of lax gun regulations.

Similarly unsubstantiated noise emerged from rightwing spaces about the identity of the alleged shooter.

“These are the usual responses that we get from the accelerationists in the far-right channels … you’ve got people identifying the shooter as antifa, or as a trans person, as a Jewish person,” Rogers said. “You’ve got the usual suspects being trotted out. And then on the more QAnon channels you’ve got ‘this is the left trying to bait us into a civil war’.”

The one thing Rogers found most disturbing was a pattern of mass deletion of posts in the far-right Telegram channels she follows in the minutes after the shooting. She said they do that in case it was one of their own.

“Telegram aficionados know that people are watching and potentially, if there was a connection, if there’s anybody on there that did actually have facts, it’s not like they’re going to let that stuff stand.”

https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/art ... p-shooting

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Honestly, a part of me wants the guy to have succeeded. After all the horrible things Trump's done there would be an element of karmic justice to it.

And it wouldn't have happened to a nicer individual

[bilateralrope]

Trump assassination attempt: More details emerge on suspect

Law enforcement officials were working today to learn more about the 20-year-old Pennsylvania man they believe tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally and to determine what drove him to open fire, killing one spectator.

Authorities identified Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the shooter who fired from a rooftop outside the rally venue in Butler before he was killed by the Secret Service.

An FBI official said late Saturday that a motive had not yet been determined. Public court records in Pennsylvania show no past criminal cases against Crooks, who graduated from high school two years ago.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said on social media the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting. Two spectators were critically injured, authorities said. The man killed was Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from the area who Pennsylvania's governor says died a “hero” by diving onto his family to protect them.

Relatives of Crooks didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press. His father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN late Saturday that he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” but wouldn’t speak about his son until after he talked to law enforcement.

Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. In a video of the school’s graduation ceremony posted online, Crooks can be seen crossing the stage to receive his diploma, appearing slight of build and wearing glasses. The school district said it will cooperate fully with investigators. His senior year, Crooks was among several students given an award for math and science, according to a Tribune-Review story at the time.

Jason Kohler, who said he attended the same high school but did not share any classes with Crooks, said Crooks was bullied at school and sat alone at lunch time. Other students mocked him for the way he dressed, such as hunting outfits, Kohler said.

“He was bullied almost every day,” Kohler told reporters. “He was just a outcast, and you know how kids are nowadays.”

Crooks’ political leanings were not immediately clear. Records show Crooks was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but federal campaign finance reports also show he gave $15 to a progressive political action committee on Jan. 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden was sworn into office.

Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger told AP on that Crooks had been previously unknown to investigators in his county and had not been on their radar. He said the investigation had so far not turned up any evidence that he had coordinated with anyone else in the region.

A blockade had been set up preventing traffic near Crooks’ house, which is in an enclave of modest brick houses in the hills outside blue-collar Pittsburgh. Police cars were stationed at an intersection near the house and officers were seen walking through the neighborhood.

Bomb-making materials were found inside Crooks' vehicle near the Trump rally and at his home, according to two officials who were not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. A white Allegheny County Police truck identified as bomb squad pulled up to the home late morning.

Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene of the shooting, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Investigators believe the weapon was bought by the father at least six months ago, two law enforcement officials told AP.

The officials said federal agents were still working to understand when and how Thomas Crooks obtained the gun. The officials were not authorised to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

An AP analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from the scene of the Trump rally, as well as satellite imagery of the site, shows the shooter was able to get close to the stage where the former president was speaking.

A video posted to social media and geolocated by AP shows Crooks wearing a gray t-shirt with a black American flag on the right arm lying motionless on the roof of a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump’s rally was held.

The roof where Crooks lay was less than 150 metres (164 yards) from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a decent marksman could reasonably hit a human-sized target. For reference, 150 meters is a distance at which US Army recruits must hit a scaled human-sized silhouette to qualify with the M-16 rifle.

Images of Crooks’ body reviewed by AP shows that at the time of the shooting he appears to have been wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a popular YouTube channel with more than 11.6 million subscribers that regularly posts videos that show creator Matt Carriker firing off handguns and assault rifles at targets that include human mannequins and vehicles.

Carriker, who lives in Texas, did not respond to a phone message or email on, but posted a photo of Crooks' bloody corpse wearing his brand's T-shirts on social media with the comment “What the hell.”

So we either have a republican gunman or someone who was forced into registering as a republican despite not wanting to.

Also, he managed to hit Trump's ear. So I have to wonder how this will affect Trump's future rallies.

[His Divine Shadow]

It's not like Trump ever listens.

Anyway maybe it's just todays fast paced world but I'm already feeling tired of this story and ready to move on to the next.

[Eternal_Freedom]

I'm just glad the shooter wasn't a registered Democrat, because that would be been a goddamn shitshow.

Also, this bit: "Relatives of Crooks didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press." I have really grown to despise this feature of modern journalism. Reporting that someone "didn't immediately respond" when, again, they're learning that their relative is a) dead and b) tried to shoot Trump and killed someone else. Yeah, sure, because talking to fucking journalists is going to be the first thing on their mind. I hate it when this is included in "breaking news" as if it means something.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

Apparently Crooks fucked up and killed a former fire chief instead. The Republicans are gonna milk the hell out of this
'Hero' firefighter died protecting his family during Trump rally shooting

A former fire chief killed at a Donald Trump rally has been described as a "hero" after diving in front of his family to protect them from the bullets.

Corey Comperatore, 50, used his body to shield his wife and daughter as shots were fired at Trump during his speech in Pennsylvania.

“He’s a literal hero," said Mike Morehouse, who has lived next door to Mr Comperatore for the last eight years.

"He shoved his family out of the way, and he got killed for them. He’s a hero that I was happy to have as a neighbour."

Mr Comperatore died during an attempt to kill Trump at Saturday's event in Butler. The shooter was killed by the Secret Service.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden extended their “deepest condolences" to Mr Comperatore's family.

“He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired and he lost his life, God love him," said Biden.

Mr Comperatore had served as a firefighter for more than 20 years and as chief for about three years.

Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, said he was "just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out”.

He added: "He definitely stood up for what he believed in, never backed down to anyone. He was a really good guy.”

Assistant Chief Ricky Heasley, who knew Mr Comperatore for more than a decade, remembered him as very outgoing and full of life.

“He never had a bad word,” He said.

The Secret Service said it killed the suspected shooter, who attacked from an elevated position outside the rally venue.

The former president was showing off a chart of border-crossing numbers when at least five shots were fired.

Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Agents quickly huddled in a shield around him.

Two other people were injured during the shooting and officials have said they are in a stable condition.

They have been identified as David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, both of Pennsylvania.

[Elfdart]

I'm just glad the shooter wasn't a registered Democrat, because that would be been a goddamn shitshow.

Also, this bit: "Relatives of Crooks didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press." I have really grown to despise this feature of modern journalism. Reporting that someone "didn't immediately respond" when, again, they're learning that their relative is a) dead and b) tried to shoot Trump and killed someone else. Yeah, sure, because talking to fucking journalists is going to be the first thing on their mind. I hate it when this is included in "breaking news" as if it means something.

It reminds me of the assassination of Buckwheat and the media coverage:
LINK
LINK

[Rogue 9]

He donated to Act Blue when he was 17, but seemed to be a registered Republican at the time of his death. If his motives were conservative in nature that might hopefully defuse the inevitable conspiracy theories against the Dems.

Different Thomas Crooks. That turns out to have been a registered Democrat in Pittsburgh who's 69 years old and just happens to have the same name.

[Elfdart]

Apparently Crooks fucked up and killed a former fire chief instead. The Republicans are gonna milk the hell out of this
'Hero' firefighter died protecting his family during Trump rally shooting

A former fire chief killed at a Donald Trump rally has been described as a "hero" after diving in front of his family to protect them from the bullets.

This "hero" was a real sack of shit.

[Gandalf]

This "hero" was a real sack of shit.

How many sacks of not shit are you likely to find at a Trump rally?

[bilateralrope]

He donated to Act Blue when he was 17, but seemed to be a registered Republican at the time of his death. If his motives were conservative in nature that might hopefully defuse the inevitable conspiracy theories against the Dems.

Different Thomas Crooks. That turns out to have been a registered Democrat in Pittsburgh who's 69 years old and just happens to have the same name.

Could you post a source for that ?

I'm predicting that people will keep pointing to the donation to claim the shooter was really a democrat. So it will probably be helpful to be able to refute that.

[Ralin]

This "hero" was a real sack of shit.

Yup, sure sounds like. Still good on him for protecting his family and now no one will ever have to hear his opinions about Gaza again. Definite contender for most virtuous person at the Trump rally.

[Zwinmar]

Watched the video and honestly, it looks like a WWF event, i.e. fake as shit/staged. The people behind him are not reacting like shots are being fired.

[Ralin]

Watched the video and honestly, it looks like a WWF event, i.e. fake as shit/staged. The people behind him are not reacting like shots are being fired.

Who says they realized shots had been fired? Or that random people at a Trump rally will react the way you think you would to that happening?

[EnterpriseSovereign]

This "hero" was a real sack of shit.

Yup, sure sounds like. Still good on him for protecting his family and now no one will ever have to hear his opinions about Gaza again. Definite contender for most virtuous person at the Trump rally.

That's a very, very low bar