Within milliseconds of former US President Donald Trump getting shot in his right ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a photographer was able to capture the bullet flying past his head.
The image captured by New York Times photojournalist Doug Mills on Saturday show a silver streak behind Trump's head after it grazed his right ear during an assassination attempt. Another photo taken by Mills show Trump touching his right ear after getting shot and a subsequent one that showed him removing his hand with blood on it.
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After being shot, Trump was seen dropping to the ground along with rest of the spectators as the Secret Service came to his rescue. Later, Trump said he got shot in the ear, adding that he heard a "whizzing sound" and felt like a "bullet ripping through skin".
A remarkable photo captured by my former White House Press Corps colleague Doug Mills.
— Haraz N. Ghanbari (@HarazGhanbari) July 14, 2024
Zoom in right above President Trump’s shoulder and you’ll see a bullet flying in the air to the right of President Trump’s head following an attempted assassination. pic.twitter.com/FqmLBCytoW
The Secret Service, which termed the attack an assassination attempt, said the male suspect was shot dead. One man in the audience was also fatally shot by the suspect while two other men were critically injured, according to officials.
The FBI said it was unaware of the suspect on the roof until the shots were fired. The suspect was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who hails from Bethel Park, 40 miles from the location of the shooting. The motive was yet to be confirmed. Police are looking at multiple angles and whether anyone else is involved in the attack.
Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump thanked the Secret Service for saving her father in an X post. "I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement officers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country," she said. "I love you Dad, today and always."
