Current:Home > Invest1 week after Trump assassination attempt: Updates on his wound, the shooter-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
1 week after Trump assassination attempt: Updates on his wound, the shooter
View Date:2024-12-23 19:46:14
Editor's Note: This page is a 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! (8)
Related
- Military veteran gets time served for making ricin out of ‘curiosity’
- 'Emily in Paris' to return for Season 5, but Lily Collins says 'there's no place like Rome'
- The Coast Guard will hear from former OceanGate employees about the Titan implosion
- Louisville interim police chief will lead department in permanent role
- Wildfires burn on both coasts. Is climate change to blame?
- A Waffle House customer fatally shot a worker, police say
- Biggest moments at the 2024 Emmy Awards, from Candice Bergen to 'Shogun'
- The next generation of Buffetts is poised to become one of the biggest forces in philanthropy
- Georgia House Democrats shift toward new leaders after limited election gains
- 2024 Emmys: Pommel Horse Star Stephen Nedoroscik Keeps Viral Olympics Tradition Alive Before Presenting
Ranking
- BITFII Introduce
- Polaris Dawn mission comes to end with SpaceX Dragon landing off Florida coast
- Taylor Swift Attends Patrick Mahomes’ Birthday Bash After Chiefs Win
- Get $336 Worth of Tarte Makeup for $55 & More Deals on Top-Sellers Like Tarte Shape Tape & Amazonian Clay
- South Carolina does not set a date for the next execution after requests for a holiday pause
- Powerball winning numbers for September 14: Jackpot climbs to $152 million
- Giving away a fortune: What could Warren Buffett’s adult children support?
- MLB power rankings: Yankees, Aaron Judge get comfortable in AL East penthouse
Recommendation
-
Trading wands for whisks, new Harry Potter cooking show brings mess and magic
-
Martin Sheen, more 'West Wing' stars reunite on Oval Office set at Emmys
-
'We don't want the hits': Jayden Daniels' daredevil style still a concern after QB's first win
-
Shooting leaves 1 dead in Detroit at popular tailgating location after Lions game, police say
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Take the Day Off
-
Taylor Swift Attends Patrick Mahomes’ Birthday Bash After Chiefs Win
-
Halloween shouldn't scare your wallet: Where to find cheap costumes and decoration ideas
-
Jermaine Johnson injury update: NY Jets linebacker suffers season-ending injury vs Titans