US - Shots fired at Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania as former president is seen with blood across his face, 13 July 2024

[Fabled Automatic]

If he was on the back half of that laying down, it's possible he wasn't visible fully if at all until he began shooting.

He was on the back half laying down


Source:

As it happened: Former US president Donald Trump injured in Pennsylvania shooting

The FBI has identified the shooter at Donald Trump’s campaign rally as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was shot dead.

www.smh.com.au

 

[photoprose1122]

Fortunately, he was a bad shot, and he missed.

JMVHO.

This may have already been said - but it bears repeating, if Trump had not turned his head when he did, it likely would be a different story. I don’t think the shooter was as bad a shot as is being implied.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

The shooter attempted to somewhat hide his ladder


Source:

Trump shooting: Gunman identified as video shows body and rifle on roof

Footage shows the body of the attacker, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, on the roof of a nearby building.

news.sky.com

 

[JennieM]

4 min ago

NOW: Biden gives an Oval Office address

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

President Joe Biden is addressing the nation from the Oval Office following the attack on former President Donald Trump.

An Oval Office address is rare. It’s only the third time he has chosen to do this. The last time he spoke from the Oval Office was on October 19, 2023, following Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Typically, remarks from the Oval Office are reserved for the most solemn and heavy moments in the country, according to CNN’s MJ Lee.

The address tonight will be a “forceful” update on the attack and Biden will emphasize the “need for every American to come together to not just condemn, but put an end to political violence in this country once and for all,” a campaign official previewing the remarks told CNN.

https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-rally-shooting-07-14-24/index.html

 

[Knox]

Have read numerous articles on it. Not one has stated the type or quantity of explosives.

Explosive Devices Reportedly Found In Car, Possibly Home Of Suspected Trump Shooter

The FBI identified 20-year-old Bethel Park, Pa., resident Thomas Matthew Crooks as the suspected gunman early Sunday morning.

www.huffpost.com

The reason for that train of thought, he was going to take his life and others - no matter how it was accomplished.Just curious about his intent in bringing them, but leaving them behind in the vehicle. Unless they were set to detonate if someone opened the door, but no indication of that in the media.

 

[justtrish]

The president and vice president have been briefed. Homeland security has spoke with the secret service and been briefed.

It's time the American people are briefed. We should not have to wait week months for a thorough indepth investigation before we know what happened. Americans will judge this attempted assassination based on what the media is reporting. Many live witnesses are speaking out, we have many facts, now we need answers and quickly.

The last thing I want to hear tonight, is kumbaya, hug your neighbor and let's all be one happy family. I think if that's the message the American public will be infuriated.

This is a very serious situation, an attempt was made on a previous president and public figure running for office.

It's a .... tell us what you know, and let's move on and try to heal, or they can let this fester.

Moo

Yep!

What is currently being spoken about is NOT what happened yesterday, it is something else and it's infuriating actually.

 

[JennieM]

5m ago

Biden: ‘We don’t have any information about the motive of the shooter.’

“Let the FBI do their job, and the partner agencies do their job,” Biden says.


6m ago

Biden: ‘sincerely grateful’ Trump is doing well after assassination attempt

“I’m sincerely grateful that he’s doing well and recovering,” Joe Biden said, of his short phone call with Donald Trump.

He also expressed sadness over the killing of a 50-year-old father who died at the rally while protecting his family from bullets.

“An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for,” he said.

Joe Biden to give Oval Office address after assassination attempt on Donald Trump – latest updates

Suspect, named as Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed in shooting at Pennsylvania rally; Trump and Biden reportedly had ‘good conversation’

www.theguardian.com

 

[photoprose1122]

Yes, I'm sure that helped. The obvious unanswered question though is why he didn't engage, and attempt to stop the shooter in the first place.

And of course the question as to why SS snipers didn't have constant eyes on that building.

From what I understand, he couldn’t engage because his hands were occupied holding himself up on the ledge. The shooter turned and aimed at him and he dropped down. Then the shooter opened fire. The officer probably wasn’t able to engage at that point because reaching for his weapon wasn’t an option.

 

[MassGuy]

From what I understand, he couldn’t engage because his hands were occupied holding himself up on the ledge. The shooter turned and aimed at him and he dropped down. Then the shooter opened fire. The officer probably wasn’t able to engage at that point because reaching for his weapon wasn’t an option.

You can hold onto a ladder with one hand, and use your free hand to do anything you want. That’s how construction workers do their jobs.

We’ll learn more soon I’m sure via a police report or something.

 

[JennieM]

‘No place in America for violence’

President Biden has reiterated that “violence is never the answer” in US politics, listing a string of incidents including the attempted assassination of former President Tump, the Janury 6 assault on the capital and the attack on former house speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence - for any violence ever,” he said.

“The political rhetoric in this country has gotten heated, it’s time to cool it down.”




Biden calls man who died in shooting a "hero"

In his speech, Joe Biden once again offers his condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, the man who was killed at Saturday's shooting.

“Corey was a husband, a father, a volunteer firefighter and a hero, sheltering his family from those bullets,” he says, adding that the public should hold him and his family in their prayers.




We need to lower the temperature in politics', Biden says

Biden starts his address by telling his "fellow Americans" of the "need for us to lower the temperature in our politics".

"Yesterday's shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back," he said.

Live updates: Bandaged Trump gets rapturous welcome at Republican convention

The former president makes his first public appearance since the attempted assassination, arriving with a bandaged ear to cheers and applause.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[justtrish]

The reason for that train of thought, he was going to take his life and others - no matter how it was accomplished.Just curious about his intent in bringing them, but leaving them behind in the vehicle. Unless they were set to detonate if someone opened the door, but no indication of that in the media.

I did have a thought that maybe he wanted to use the explosives to hit Trump as his convoy entered or exited. Maybe a back up plan in case he didn't get up on the roof in a position to take a shot?

 

[SMK777]

I’m catching up on the thread, but this guy looks eerily familiar and I can’t put my finger on it. Not in an I would know him personally sort of way, but like he reminds me of someone who has done something like this in the past. Unsettling.

I felt he looked oddly familiar, too.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

The reason for that train of thought, he was going to take his life and others - no matter how it was accomplished.Just curious about his intent in bringing them, but leaving them behind in the vehicle. Unless they were set to detonate if someone opened the door, but no indication of that in the media.

If you see the distance from where he was on the roof, to his ladder, to his parked vehicle (not very far), my guess would be he intended to flee and force a standoff with LE, perhaps goading them to approach his car. MOO

 

[JennieM]

Political contests must be 'peaceful’

Biden has repeatedly stressed that - despite disagreements on where the country is headed and who should lead it - politics needs to be "an arena for peaceful debate".
"[It] must never be a battlefield and, God forbid, a killing field."

"No matter how strong our convictions, we must never descend into violence."




Biden stresses national unity, saying differences are not resolved 'with bullets'

Biden stresses his message of unity after Saturday's shooting.

He calls for action at the ballot box, saying that is "how democracy should work."

"In America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box, not with bullets," he says.
Biden adds that "the power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not the hands of would-be assassins".

"Hate must have no safe harbour," he goes on. "Here in America, we need to get out of our siloes."

Live updates: Bandaged Trump gets rapturous welcome at Republican convention

The former president makes his first public appearance since the attempted assassination, arriving with a bandaged ear to cheers and applause.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Simply Southern]

Messages of kindness are infuriating? Huh. Never knew that.

jmo

I certainly didn't mean to imply that, and understand how my statement does appear to convey that.

I guess what I'm trying to say... Is, as we see with so many families here, exposed to horrific trauma, the ability to heal is in the answers to the questions .... why did this happen, how did this happen, who's responsible, who's accountable, what are we going to do to prevent it in the future.

I don't think we can heal until we know what and why. It's just human nature. We see families suffer through trials, seeking answers.
Moo

 

[JennieM]

Democracy and fair play 'not quaint notions' - Biden

President Biden has concluded his speech on the importance of upholding US values to protect the country's future.

He called on citizens to strive for a democracy where "arguments are made in good faith" and "where the rule of law is respected".

"An American democracy where decency, dignity and fair play aren’t just quaint notions but living breathing realities - we owe that to those who came before us, to ourselves, to our children and our grandchildren," he finishes.

Live updates: Bandaged Trump gets rapturous welcome at Republican convention

The former president makes his first public appearance since the attempted assassination, arriving with a bandaged ear to cheers and applause.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[photoprose1122]

You can hold onto a ladder with one hand, and use your free hand to do anything you want. That’s how construction workers do their jobs.

We’ll learn more soon I’m sure via a police report or something.

True, but what I read implied he had pulled himself up on the ledge, not that he was holding onto a ladder. But you’re correct, we’ll find out.

 

[karen in New York]

You can hold onto a ladder with one hand, and use your free hand to do anything you want. That’s how construction workers do their jobs.

We’ll learn more soon I’m sure via a police report or something.

Was there a ladder? I missed that. Why would a ladder be up against a building. That might be an invitation for problems.

 

[Betty P]

The president and vice president have been briefed. Homeland security has spoke with the secret service and been briefed.

It's time the American people are briefed. We should not have to wait week months for a thorough indepth investigation before we know what happened. Americans will judge this attempted assassination based on what the media is reporting. Many live witnesses are speaking out, we have many facts, now we need answers and quickly.

The last thing I want to hear tonight, is kumbaya, hug your neighbor and let's all be one happy family. I think if that's the message the American public will be infuriated.

This is a very serious situation, an attempt was made on a previous president and public figure running for office.

It's a .... tell us what you know, and let's move on and try to heal, or they can let this fester.

Moo

It's a crime scene, just as with any similar crime. It will take a while to investigate, just as similar crimes are investigated here every day.

They know who the shooter was, where he got his weapon. The rest will take time.

Unfortunately, its not the first or last attempted assassination of a president or ex-president. There's a process and procedures to follow.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

The shooter attempted to somewhat hide his ladder

View attachment 517899
Source:

Trump shooting: Gunman identified as video shows body and rifle on roof

Footage shows the body of the attacker, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, on the roof of a nearby building.

news.sky.com

Is that a ladder? If yes, then how did the local police officer climb to the roof?