Donald Trump, victims treated at hospitals after shooting at Pa. rally

When a gunman opened fire at former President Donald Trump’s rally in western Pennsylvania Saturday night, western Pennsylvania doctors and hospitals were pressed into service.

Former President Donald Trump was injured Saturday when a gunman opened fire at a rally in western Pennsylvania. Authorities said one attendee at the rally was fatally shot and two others were seriously injured.

Trump was injured after a gunman opened fire at a rally in Butler, a community about 33 miles north of Pittsburgh. The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police called it an assassination attempt.

The U.S. Secret Service said the shooter was killed by Secret Service agents, and one spectator at the Trump rally was killed.

Two other individuals were injured, the Secret Service said. Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said the two individuals were “critically wounded.”

The former president said on Truth Social Saturday that a bullet pierced his ear.

“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Secret Service agents surrounded Trump and images showed the former president with blood on his ear, standing and raising his fist before being ushered off the stage.

Trump was out of the hospital late Saturday, Bloomberg reported, but didn’t identify the facility.

KDKA-TV reported that Trump was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital and later released.

Former President Donald Trump was treated at Butler Memorial Hospital in western Pennsylvania after gunshots were fired at a campaign rally, KDKA-TV reported. Trump was later released, officials said.

Butler Memorial is about 11 miles from the Butler Farm Show grounds, which was the site of the rally, KDKA reported. The hospital is part of Independence Health System, a western Pennsylvania system operating five hospitals.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said late Saturday night that, “Under the protection of US Secret Service and with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police, former President Trump has now left the Butler area.” Trump's jet landed at Newark Liberty International Airport shortly after midnight, the Associated Press reported.

CBS News reported that Donald Trump Jr. said that his father is "doing fine."

Trump’s campaign said late Saturday night that the former president is “doing well and grateful for law enforcement and first responders for their fast action.” The campaign said Trump plans to be in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday.

Allegheny General Hospital confirmed that two people injured at the Trump rally were taken to the hospital and are in critical condition, Erika Stanish of KDKA-TV reported.

The hospital is part of the Allegheny Health Network, a 14-hospital nonprofit system based in the Pittsburgh region. The hospital has a Level 1 trauma center, and the hospital says its LifeFlight helicopters can transport patients from five regional locations.

Trump posted a message on Truth Social Sunday morning thanking supporters for their thoughts and prayers and added, "It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening."

The former president also said he grieved for the individual who was killed and prayers for those who were wounded. He added that he looks forward to speaking in Wisconsin, where he will formally be named the Republican presidential nominee.

Kevin Rojek, head of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, described the attack at the rally as an “assassination attempt” but said at a news conference late Saturday night that no motive had been identified.

At a news conference early Sunday afternoon, Shapiro identified the individual who was killed as Corey Comperatore, a retired fire chief in western Pennsylvania.

Comperatore's daughter, Allyson Comperatore, posted on social media that he threw his wife and daughter to the ground when the chaos erupted and shielded them both. The governor described Comperatore's effort to protect his family and said flags in the commonwealth would be flown at half-staff.

"Corey died a hero," Shapiro said.

Pennsylvania State Police identified the other two victims Sunday afternoon: David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pa., and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pa. Both Dutch and Copenhaver are in stable condition, state police said.

"These victims and their families are certainly in our thoughts today," Col. Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, said Sunday.

The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported.

President Biden condemned the shooting and said in a brief address Saturday night, “Everybody must condemn it. Everybody.” Biden also said he was glad that Trump is doing well.

Republican and Democratic leaders denounced the attack. World leaders also condemned the attack and said their best wishes were with Trump, CNN reported.

The FBI said it has taken the lead on the investigation.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory last month describing gun violence as a public health threat, and more hospital and healthcare leaders have been vocal about the need to reduce gun violence.