What began as a jubilant rally Saturday for Donald Trump days before he becomes the official Republican presidential nominee ended in mere minutes with the former president bloodied and a suspected would-be assassin shot dead by the Secret Service.
There was also one spectator killed and two others who were critically injured in the shooting at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The former president was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when the shots, at least five, were fired.
Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Agents quickly created a shield around him.
When he finally stood, his face bloodied, he pumped his fist to cheering supporters. Trump and his motorcade left the scene and he was checked into a medical facility.
The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.
The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump
Crooks was positioned on the roof of a manufacturing plant when one of his bullets reportedly grazed Trump in the ear.
As per public records, Crooks was registered to vote as a Republican, but had also made a small donation to a Democratic-aligned group in 2021.
The gunman reportedly positioned himself 130 yards away from the stage at Butler Farm Show grounds, where the presidential campaign event was in full swing.
Officials indicated that it is premature to determine if the assassination attempt was the work of a "lone wolf."