Midstate residents react to assassination attempt on Donald Trump

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Former President Donald Trump remains in the thoughts and prayers of people nationwide following Saturday’s assassination attempt at a rally in Butler County.

“I think our persons are praying for the nation in a very particular way today,” said Father Joshua Brommer, from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Harrisburg. “So, Saturday evening. We heard the tragic news of the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally and the tragic death of an innocent person and two persons in critical condition. And so, our prayers are certainly going for all of those who have been harmed and the families that have been affected by this, that they might find healing and strength in this difficult time.”

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Kevin Keeley of Harrisburg attended 9:30 a.m. mass at St. Patrick’s Sunday morning.

Keeley told abc27 News he was shocked when he heard what happened to Trump, “Why would someone shoot him at the rally?”

According to multiple online reports, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh, pulled the trigger at Trump’s rally Saturday.

Reports say Trump was treated at Butler Memorial Hospital, after a bullet pierced his upper right ear.

The reports also say he was released from the hospital later on that same day.

“You know, I just hope they’ll be okay,” Keeley added. “And that that won’t happen again, you know.”

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“I changed my homily to remind all of my parishioners that before anything else, they’re called to bring light and joy and peace into the world, that the gospel of Jesus invites them to be the ones who are lifting people up and not tearing people down,” Brommer said. “People are upset, and they realize that this is but the culmination of a way in which we have been speaking toward one another and treating one another for a while, and that the time has come perhaps through these tragic events to start a new way, a new conversation, a new way of responding and reacting to one another for sure.

Bishop Timothy Senior sent abc27 News a statement on this situation, saying in part “I call upon all the people of the Diocese of Harrisburg to pray also for the peaceful resolution of our political differences and for peace in our country.”

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