Current:Home > ContactOliver James Montgomery-1 week after Trump assassination attempt: Updates on his wound, the shooter -InvestPioneer
Oliver James Montgomery-1 week after Trump assassination attempt: Updates on his wound, the shooter
Rekubit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 17:18:56
Editor's Note: This page is Oliver James Montgomerya summary of news on the Trump shooting for Saturday, July 20. For the latest, view our file for Sunday, July 21.
A week after a failed assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that left a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally attendee dead, investigators are digging into the background and potential motives of the suspected gunman, as questions remain about the security measures in place before the shooting.
Trump, who was on stage when the shooting happened last Saturday evening and was whisked away by Secret Service, sustained injury to his ear. His staff said he was "fine" after receiving treatment at a local hospital.
On Saturday, new details about the injury were released by Rep. Ronny Jackson, who was previously Trump's White House physician. Jackson said he has treated Trump daily since the shooting.
Trump "is doing well, and he is recovering as expected from the gunshot wound sustained last Saturday afternoon," Jackson said in a memo.
Jackson said the bullet that injured Trump came less than one-quarter of an inch from "entering his head," and hit the top of his right ear, causing a 2-cm wound. The wound is healing properly and swelling has resolved, but a dressing is still required because of occasional bleeding, Jackson said.
Corey Comperatore, the volunteer firefighter and father of two who was killed in the crowd, was remembered and mourned at a gathering on Thursday and his funeral procession Friday.
Here's the latest on what we know:
Suspect's school district issues updated statement
On Saturday, the Bethel Park School District issued an updated statement, addressing several "misconceptions."
The district said its records show Thomas Matthew Crooks excelled in academics and had no disciplinary history, or record of having been bullied. He got along with classmates and school employees, the district said. (Classmates have given varying accounts of Crooks' experience in school.)
"It would be wildly irresponsible for us to speculate on his state of mind in the two years since we last saw Thomas Crooks," the district said.
The school district also has no records of him being a member of or trying out for the rifle team, but said it was possible he had informally attended a practice. A classmate previously told USA TODAY that Crooks had tried out for the team their freshman year but that Crooks couldn't compete.
It took too long to evacuate Trump after shooting, experts say
In the moments after Secret Service covered Trump and decided to evacuate him from the rally grounds, the former president paused, made himself visible to the crowd, and pumped his fist. The iconic moment was captured in photos and videos.
But former Secret Service officials and experts told USA TODAY it went against protocol to take that long to usher him out, and further endangered his life. It is standard protocol to keep the "protectee" bent at the waist so agents can fully surround him and cover his body as they walk him away.
“It was absolutely terrible coverage trying to get him out,” said former Secret Service Director John Magaw.
“It should have been faster,” said A.T. Smith, the deputy director of the Secret Service from 2012 to 2015. Read more.
Probes continue into how law enforcement failed to prevent shooting
At least some members of law enforcement present at the Butler rally had spotted Crooks before he ever took a shot, according to officials, videos shared by rally attendees and news reports.
Crooks was positioned on a rooftop near the rally site, where law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle afterward, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said.
A local police officer came face-to-face with Crooks just before the shooting. Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe told Reuters the officer was hoisted up to the roof by his partner. The gunman saw the officer and pointed his rifle at him before the officer, holding to the roof's edge, dropped down to safety.
Kenneth Valentine, a former Secret Service special agent in charge, told Reuters the agency responsible for protecting Trump should have had personnel surveilling rooftops and in a position to neutralize any threats.
Crooks' motive remains unclear.
Anthony Guglielmi, the Secret Service spokesman, told USA TODAY that "there is an independent review panel that's going to look at all aspects of this" including the evacuation process.
Contributing: Josh Meyer, John Bacon, Christopher Cann, Jorge L. Ortiz, Kenny Jacoby, Kristine Phillips, Bryce Buyakie, USA TODAY Network; Reuters
veryGood! (99348)
Related
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- The Ultimate Labor Day 2024 Sales Guide: 60% Off J.Crew, 70% Off Michael Kors, 70% Off Kate Spade & More
- First look at 'Jurassic World Rebirth': See new cast Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey
- As first execution in a decade nears, South Carolina prison director says 3 methods ready
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- 'Serial' case keeps going: An undo turns into a redo in Adnan Syed murder conviction
- Milo Ventimiglia reunites with Mandy Moore for 'This Is Us' rewatch: See the photo
- Jessica Biel and Son Silas Timberlake Serve Up Adorable Bonding Moment in Rare Photo at U.S. Open
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge shows price pressures easing as rate cuts near
Ranking
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- How many points did Caitlin Clark score today? Fever rookie nets career high in win vs. Sky
- Tennis star Caroline Garcia another example of athletes being endangered by gamblers
- Women behind bars are often survivors of abuse. A series of new laws aim to reduce their sentences
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Man arrested in Colorado dog breeder’s killing, but the puppies are still missing
- Nvidia sees stock prices drop after record Q2 earnings. Here's why.
- Memphis City Council sues to reinstate gun control measures on November ballot
Recommendation
Bodycam footage shows high
2 women charged in Lululemon shoplifting scheme in Minneapolis
Artem Chigvintsev Previously Accused of Kicking Strictly Come Dancing Partner
Contract security officers leave jail in Atlanta after nonpayment of contract
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
Labor Day weekend: Food deals from Buffalo Wild Wings, KFC, Krispy Kreme and more
Man pleads guilty to killing Baltimore tech entrepreneur in attack that shocked the city
Matthew Gaudreau's Wife Madeline Pregnant With Their First Baby Amid His Death