Breaking: There was an attempt to assassinate former president Donald Trump

Unexpectedly, former President Donald Trump escaped an attempted murder during a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. One spectator died as a result of the incident, while two more are in critical condition. It has been decades since an effort of this kind was made against a former president or a presidential candidate.

The gathering, which was held in a field outside of Pittsburgh, descended into chaos when several gunshots were fired from a rooftop outside the perimeter of security. Trump was hit in the ear, but he was able to escape the attack because of the quick thinking of the Secret Service agents who protected him on stage. The former president was swept away to a nearby hospital for treatment after losing his shoes in the subsequent pandemonium and appearing injured but fiercely raised his fist to the throng.

The shooter, Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was shot and killed on the rooftop by Secret Service snipers. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the attack’s motivation. In a statement, the former president Trump expressed his shock that such a crime could occur in the US. He recounted the instant he realized he had been shot, including the zipping sound the bullet made and his initial reaction.

President Joe Biden denounced the assault and referred to it as a “sick” violent conduct. He had a conversation with Trump, albeit the specifics were kept under wraps. The event occurs a few days prior to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which is now expected to go on as scheduled.

Witnesses reported the horrific scene; one man related how a woman was gravely hurt and another man died after a fellow attendee was shot in the head. There were definitely fewer casualties because of the Secret Service’s prompt action.

An ominous reminder of the bloody past of political violence in the US is this attempted assassination. In the run-up to the next convention, the country keeps a tight eye on the ongoing investigations and the heated political environment.

Watch this space for additional updates as responses from all over the world keep coming in on this evolving story.