Trump shooting live updates: Suspected gunman purchased 50 rounds on day of shooting

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Federal authorities are investigating after former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

Blood splattered on Trump's face as Secret Service agents surrounded him and led him off the stage to a waiting vehicle to whisk him away. Trump is "fine," a spokesperson said.

The alleged shooter was killed by snipers. One spectator was killed and two were hurt, officials said.


Latest Developments


Jul 15, 9:56 PM

Suspected gunman purchased 50 rounds of ammunition day of shooting: Officials

The suspected gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his campaign rally Saturday purchased 50 rounds of ammunition ahead of the event, according to a bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI Monday.

Thomas Matthew Crooks purchased the rounds from a gun and ammunition shop in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, according to officials.

PHOTO: A drone view during the police investigation into gunfire at a campaign rally of Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 14, 2024.  (Carlos Osorio/Reuters)
PHOTO: A drone view during the police investigation into gunfire at a campaign rally of Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 14, 2024. (Carlos Osorio/Reuters)

The bulletin notes that two improvised explosive devices were found in the shooter's car and one at his home.

"Over the last several months, Crooks received several packages, including some marked as possibly containing hazardous material, according to a review of his shipping history," officials wrote.

Officials also warn of future "follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence in response to this assassination attempt."

"We cannot rule out the possibility that some DVEs (Domestic violent extremists) or other actors may attempt follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence in response to this assassination attempt."

-ABC News' Mike Levine


Jul 15, 8:58 PM

Suspected Trump shooter graduated from community college with 'high honors'

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected gunman in the deadly campaign rally shooting Saturday, did not have any disciplinary problems while attending community college and graduated with "high honors," the school said in a statement Monday.

PHOTO: Undated photo of Thomas Matthew Crooks. (Obtained by ABC News)
PHOTO: Undated photo of Thomas Matthew Crooks. (Obtained by ABC News)

Crooks, 20, graduated from Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) in May of this year and majored in Engineering Science, according to the college.

"This individual graduated from CCAC with high honors on May 16, 2024, and was conferred an Associate in Science degree," spokesperson Dena Rose Buzila said in a statement. "In addition, based upon our preliminary review, CCAC has no records relating to any disciplinary, student conduct or security-related incidents involving the identified individual."


Jul 15, 8:35 PM

Trump family member will attend shooting victim Corey Comperatore's funeral

Eric Trump said there is "no question" that a Trump family member will attend the funeral of Corey Comperatore, who was shot and killed at the campaign rally on Saturday.

PHOTO: Corey Comperatore is seen in this undated image shared by his family. (Facebook)
PHOTO: Corey Comperatore is seen in this undated image shared by his family. (Facebook)

During an interview with Fox News on Monday night at the Republican National Convention, Eric called Comperatore's death "unthinkable," adding, "This is a person who loved Donald Trump, his family. He jumped on his children. It's unthinkable what happened there."

Comperatore, 50, was a firefighter and a father of two daughters, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday. He was from Sarver, Pennsylvania.

Comperatore "died a hero" when he "dove on his family" to protect them from the gunfire during the rally, his wife said, according to Shapiro.

Eric Trump said that the GoFundMe page created for Comperatore's family was close to reaching $5 million.


Jul 15, 8:30 PM

Eric Trump indicates Secret Service director should step down after shooting

In his first interview since Donald Trump was shot at a rally Saturday, Eric Trump was asked if U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle should stay in her position.

"The head [of the Secret Service]? No, they should have had more resources," Trump said.

"Listen, at the end of the day, we can't get past the fact that somebody should not have gotten on a roof 130 yards away from the president of the United States -- you know, ex-president of the United States, and soon to be president of the United States, with a high power rifle; that's inexcusable," Trump said.

Speaking with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas, Cheatle called the shooting "unacceptable," saying, "it's something that shouldn't happen again."

PHOTO: U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle sat down with ABC News in her first network interview since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. (ABC News)
PHOTO: U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle sat down with ABC News in her first network interview since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. (ABC News)

In the days since the attack, Cheatle and the Secret Service have faced heightening scrutiny for failing to prevent the incident from happening, and even calls from some to resign.

Cheatle said she would not resign from her role.


Jul 15, 7:29 PM

Biden addresses trajectory of 2024 election after assassination attempt on Trump

President Joe Biden weighed in on if the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump will impact the trajectory of the 2024 election.

In an interview with NBC's Lester Holt, Biden was asked if he believes that this shooting has "changed the trajectory of this race," to which Biden said, "I don't know. And you don't know either."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 14, 2024.    (Erin Schaff/Pool via Reuters)
PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, July 14, 2024. (Erin Schaff/Pool via Reuters)

"I've thought less about the trajectory of the race than two things. One, what his [Trump] health is. That was secure. Number one. And number two, what happens from here on in terms of the kind of coverage that the president and vice president and former president and new vice president get," Biden said.

The president was also asked about his phone call with Trump after this past weekend's shooting, which he described as a "very cordial" conversation.

"I told him how concerned I was and wanted to make sure I knew how he was actually doing. He sounded good. He said he was fine. And he thanked me for calling him. I told him he was literally in the prayers of Jill and me and I hoped his whole family was weathering this," Biden said.

-ABC News’ Justin Gomez


Jul 15, 7:12 PM

Secret Service director says police were inside building shooter was positioned on

In her first network interview since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle offered insight into the logistics surrounding the deadly shooting Saturday.

"It was unacceptable," she said in an interview Monday with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas. "And it's something that shouldn't happen again."

PHOTO: U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle sat down with ABC News in her first network interview since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. (ABC News)
PHOTO: U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle sat down with ABC News in her first network interview since the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. (ABC News)

Cheatle said that local authorities were tasked with securing the building where the alleged shooter fired the shots before being taken out by a Secret Service sniper, and confirmed that local police were present inside the building while the shooter was on the roof.

"In this particular instance, we did share support for that particular site and that the Secret Service was responsible for the inner perimeter," Cheatle said. "And then we sought assistance from our local counterparts for the outer perimeter. There was local police in that building -- there was local police in the area that were responsible for the outer perimeter of the building."

She is expected to testify before the GOP-led House Oversight Committee next Monday, July 22.

-ABC News' Julia Reinstein


Jul 15, 5:49 PM

Trump tells ABC News assassination attempt had 'impact'

Former President Donald Trump shared an update with ABC News' Jonathan Karl on how his right ear is recovering and said the assassination attempt at his campaign rally Saturday had "impact."

When asked if the close call to the bullet striking his head "changed him," Trump said, "I don’t like to think about that, but, yes, I think has an impact."

Trump said his ear is doing fine and that he hopes the bandage will be off by the time he speaks on Thursday at the Republican National Convention.


Jul 15, 5:00 PM

Mayorkas announces independent review

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced an independent review of the shooting and said it will be launched in "days."

"We are, indeed, in the process of selecting who will lead the independent review. The findings indeed will be made public," he said. "It is very important that we achieve transparency so that the American people have confidence in the work of the review and its findings and recommendations. And we need to move with swiftness and urgency, because this is a security imperative."

Mayorkas said he was committed to going "externally of the government" so that "no question of its independence can be raised."

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.  (Evan Vucci/AP)
PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Mayorkas told reporters he has "100% confidence" in Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden also has confidence in the director.

Biden told reporters Monday that he has faith in his own Secret Service detail and faith in the agency.

-ABC News’ Justin Ryan Gomez


Jul 15, 3:33 PM

Secret Service protection increased for Trump, adjusted for Biden

Secret Service protection has been increased for former President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

The enhancement is "based on the evolving nature of threats to the former president and his imminent shift from presumptive nominee to nominee," Mayorkas said. "This includes enhancements related to securing the former president during the Republican National Convention this week. I cannot discuss specifics ... as they involve sensitive tactics and procedures. I can say, however, that personnel and other protective resources, technology and capabilities have been added."

"Adjustments" have also been made to President Joe Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ protective details, Mayorkas said.

-ABC News’ Justin Ryan Gomez


Jul 15, 3:28 PM

RFK Jr. to get Secret Service protection

Under direction from President Joe Biden, Secret Service protection will be coordinated for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

"In light of this weekend's events, the president has directed me to work with the Secret Service to provide protection to Robert Kennedy Jr.," Mayorkas told reporters at Monday’s White House briefing.

Secret Service protection has also been increased for former President Donald Trump, Mayorkas said.

PHOTO: Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with what appears to be blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with what appears to be blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)

-ABC News' Justin Fishel

Click here to read the rest of the blog.