A Detailed Analysis of the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump made his first public appearance Monday since a shooter tried to assassinate him two days before at a political rally, entering the Republican convention hall to roaring applause, his right ear bandaged, and holding his fist aloft – the same gesture he made after being wounded and rushed off by Secret Service agents.

Even as President Trump made a triumphant appearance at the RNC last night, federal investigators are continuing to investigate security failures and the motives of the gunman who opened fire during former President Donald Trump’s rally Saturday, grazing the former president’s ear, killing one bystander and critically wounding two others.

Minute-by-Minute Timeline of Trump Assassination Attempt

The following was compiled from several sources, including the Raven Geostrategic Institute.

Saturday, July 13, 6:05 p.m. Trump walks onto the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump took the event stage at Butler Farms in Pennsylvania just after 6:00 p.m. local time as supporters cheered for the former president.

Officials said that all rally attendees went through a Secret Service screening checkpoint before being admitted to the event.

A team of Secret Service snipers were positioned on a rooftop behind Trump as the rally began.

Trump walked to the podium and began speaking to the audience.

6:09 p.m. Witnesses notice the gunman

Two minutes before shots rang out, witnesses noticed a gunman on the roof of a nearby building outside of the security perimeter.

The gunman was positioned approximately 400 feet away from the former president.

Onlookers then called the police and verified the video shared online shows.

6:10 p.m. Law enforcement seen looking for suspect

During the minute before the shooting began, law enforcement officers appeared to be searching for the suspected gunman.

A bystander captured what appears to be local law enforcement walking around the structure the suspected shooter was positioned on.

This aerial image shows the location of the stage at the Trump rally in Butler, Pa. Source: Raven Geostrategic Institute.

Local law enforcement later told the press they had been alerted to suspicious activity in the area and were in the process of looking for a potential suspect.

6:11 p.m. Gunfire erupts

Trump was eight minutes into his speech when the shooting began, according to officials.

The former president was describing a chart showing statistics on immigration and turned his head to look at it while saying, “Take a look at that chart. Take a look at the arrow on the bottom.”

Trump continued, calling out President Biden’s immigration policy, saying, “And then the worst president in the history of our country took over, and look what happened to our country.”

Trump was cut off when he said, “Probably 20 million people,” by the loud popping sounds of shots being fired and a rally attendee yelling, “He’s got a gun!”

“He’s on the roof! He’s got a gun!” the attendee can be heard saying in video footage from the event.

6:11 p.m. continued

As shots rang out and the event erupted into panic, Trump was seen clutching his right ear and ducking behind the podium.

Three Secret Service agents swarmed to cover Trump, yelling, “Get down!” as multiple additional rounds of gunshots were fired. Blood was seen smeared across the former president’s face and onto his hand in images captured at the event.

Source: Raven Geostrategic Institute

The shooter fired as many as eight rounds from an AR-style rifle while perched on a rooftop adjacent to the venue and was 200-300 yards away at the time of the shooting.

6:12 p.m. 1 spectator killed, 2 others critically injured; gunman also killed

Another round of shots was fired as snipers in Trump’s Secret Service detail killed the suspected shooter.

One spectator who was sitting behind the former president during the rally was killed, and two others were critically injured, according to officials.

Secret Service agents swiftly escorted Trump off the rally stage and into a waiting vehicle.

There appeared to be blood on Trump’s right ear as he was being taken off stage, and he could be seen mouthing “fight” and pumping his fist.

6:14 p.m. Trump departs rally for local hospital

Trump’s black SUV departs Butler Farms and takes him to the nearest hospital, Butler Memorial Hospital, approximately 11 miles away.

Security Failures: Who’s to Blame?

As the country reckons with the fallout of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday, the U.S. Secret Service has come under intense scrutiny for allowing the would-be killer to carry a rifle to within a few hundred feet of the podium where Trump was speaking.

Members of the Biden administration and senior lawmakers in Congress have said they will demand answers from the agency, which has the primary responsibility to protect current and former presidents, their families, and other senior U.S. government officials.

The Department of Homeland Security has oversight of the Secret Service. Monday, the department Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas described the attack as “a failure” by the agency.

Members of Congress, and particularly Trump’s Republican allies in the House of Representatives, vowed to get answers from the agency, scheduling hearings and demanding information from the agency.

James Comer, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, wrote on X that “Americans have questions after the assassination attempt of President Trump in Pennsylvania.” He said his committee “is working to get answers.”

Source: Raven Geostrategic Institute

Motivations Remain Unclear

As of this writing, the motivations of the shooter remain unclear. However, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, now President Trump’s running mate, tied the shooting directly to President Joe Biden.

“The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination,” he said.

A Hero Father

Even as Congress and the public demand accountability for the security failures that almost cost the former president his life, let’s not forget a fallen father who emerged a hero.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed Sunday that Corey Comperatore, 50, had died a “hero,” using his body as a shield to protect both his wife and daughter from the bullets.

“His wife shared with me that he dove on his family to protect them,” Shapiro said.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden extended their “deepest condolences” to 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. We’re also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured,” Biden said.

This remains a developing story.