On the evening of July 13, 2024, Donald Trump was speaking at an open-air campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds near Butler, Pennsylvania. At approximately 6:11 PM, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire from the roof of a building approximately 130 meters from the stage. He fired eight rounds from an AR-15–style rifle.
Trump was struck on the upper portion of his right ear. He dropped to the ground behind the podium. Secret Service agents covered him within seconds. When he stood up, his right ear and face were bleeding. He raised his fist and mouthed “fight, fight, fight” as agents escorted him to an armored vehicle.
The Dead and Wounded
Corey Comperatore, 50, a former fire chief from Buffalo Township, was killed. He dove on top of his wife and daughters to shield them from the gunfire. He died protecting his family at a political rally. Two other attendees — David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74 — were critically wounded.
Crooks was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper approximately four seconds after he began firing.
The building Crooks fired from had been identified as a security concern before the rally. Rallygoers reported seeing a man with a rifle on the roof and alerted local police minutes before the shooting. An officer boosted up to the roof saw Crooks, who pointed the rifle at him. The officer dropped back down. Seconds later, Crooks fired. The Secret Service later came under intense scrutiny — and its director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned on July 23.
The Photo
The image of Trump, bloodied, fist raised, with an American flag behind him, became one of the most iconic political photographs in American history. Within hours, it was on T-shirts, hats, posters, and campaign merchandise. The RNC convention, which began two days later, featured the photo prominently. Trump appeared with a bandage on his ear and was nominated for president by acclamation.
The Second Attempt
On September 15, 2024, a second assassination attempt occurred at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. A man named Ryan Wesley Routh was found hiding in the bushes along the perimeter with a rifle. He did not fire. Secret Service agents spotted him and shot at him. He was apprehended after a brief car chase. No one was injured.
Bottom Line
A man died at a political rally. A former fire chief, shielding his family. Two others were critically wounded. The candidate was grazed by a bullet. The security failures were documented and obvious. And within hours, the image of a bloodied candidate raising his fist became a merchandise opportunity. A man named Corey Comperatore died. His name should be in this story more than anyone else’s. He went to a rally with his family and didn’t come home. That’s the country we’re living in. Political rallies are now places where people die.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Comprehensive timeline of Butler assassination attempt, shooter details, casualties, security failures.
- Associated Press: Shooting coverage, victim identification, Secret Service response.
- New York Times: Live coverage of Butler rally shooting.
- FBI: Official statement on the investigation.