Trump Jr. says father is 'changed man'

One spectator was killed and two were critically hurt in Saturday's shooting.

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Last updated: Wednesday, July 17, 2024 12:56AM GMT
Gunman purchased 50 rounds of ammunition hours before shooting at Trump rally, investigators say
Gunman purchased 50 rounds of ammunition hours before shooting at Trump rally, investigators sayThomas Matthew Crooks told his father that he wanted to go to the gun range, so his dad let him use his AR-15-style rifle, sources say

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. Corey Comperatore, a firefighter and a father of two daughters, died in the shooting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said. Two other people who attended the rally were also injured.

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Jul 15, 2024, 1:16 AM

Timeline: How the Trump assassination attempt unfolded

Here's a a minute-by-minute timeline of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
ByRachel Scott ABCNews logo
Jul 16, 2024, 8:00 PM GMT

Trump has spoken to relative of man killed at rally

Former President Donald Trump has spoken to a family member of Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old firefighter who was killed at Saturday's rally, a source told ABC News.

Comperatore leaves behind a wife and two daughters. His funeral is set for Thursday.

By Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kelsey Walsh ABCNews logo
Jul 16, 2024, 7:15 PM GMT

Trump Jr. recalls moment he learned father was shot

Donald Trump Jr. said he was fishing with his daughter on Saturday when his fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, called to tell him that his father was shot.

"Kim calls me [and said], 'Your father was shot,'" Trump Jr. recounted during a fireside chat with Axios.

But she had no other information to give, he said.

"It was 90 minutes before I even knew he was alive," Trump Jr. said.

Trump Jr. said then he was able to speak to his father on the phone.

"Considering the heaviness of that moment, sort of gave me a window for some levity and. you know, I asked him, 'Well, most importantly, like, how's the hair?'" he said.

Trump Jr. said his father responded, "The hair is fine ... a lot of blood in it, but it's fine."

"It was a heavy couple of hours, just that unknown," Trump Jr. said. "And then you finally find everything's OK, and then you sit down, and you start seeing the video when you're watching the news. And it was like, the adrenaline dump leaves, you know. Sort of amazing how calm I was first, and then, it's like, once that goes -- 'poof.'"

Trump Jr. said he believes his father is a changed man after the shooting.

"There are events that change you for a couple minutes and there's events that change you permanently," he said.

He also said he believes that there was a breach in security procedures at Saturday's rally.

ByLuke Barr, Aaron Katersky, Shannon K. Crawford, and Katherine Faulders ABCNews logo
Jul 16, 2024, 7:53 PM GMT

Trump's Secret Service protection had been increased prior to rally shooting due to Iran threat

The U.S. Secret Service in recent weeks had increased Donald Trump's security detail due to intelligence indicating there was an Iranian threat to assassinate the former president, according to three officials familiar with the matter.

There is no indication the plot was related to the assassination attempt against the former president on Saturday.

The sources have suggested Iran has been making these types of threats since the assassination of Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani in January 2020.

READ MORE | Trump Secret Service protection had been increased due to Iran threat

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.
ByLalee Ibssa and Soorin Kim
Jul 16, 2024, 6:14 PM GMT

Trump, Vance to hold 1st campaign rally since shooting

Trump's campaign announced that he and JD Vance will be holding a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday.

This will mark their first rally together and the first one after Trump's assassination attempt. The rally will take place in an indoor venue and the first since the assassination attempt on Saturday.