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

[margarita25]

I think he wanted the shoes to protect his feet. Who knows what laid ahead in the path to the vehicle, rocks, gravel, broken glass.

Sometimes I forget and walk across the road to visit a neighbor without my shoes. Everytime I step on a tiny rock is excruciating.
Moo

It reminded me of 9/11, how many people, who ended up perishing, went back for their personal items.

 

[MassGuy]

i don't think it was so much the later. i didn't see any attendees rushing to block bullets for Trump.

i think a lot of confusion. that's what we've heard from some people there. they didn't even understand what was happening. others were probably in shock, but there were definitely some odd reactions. for example, the guy in the Willy Wonka hat had to have been high. he just didn't look right with him phone out. but, we do live in different times where people often react to dangerous events by trying to film them... as if their phones will somehow protect them.

cameraman never dies?

Yeah. It’s not like this was a close range shooting where people would actually be able to see what happened. I’m sure most of them didn’t realize what was going on at the time.

 

[snooptroop88]

This person got off eight shots before they took him down. That is a terrifying thought.

Trump rally shooter identified as 20-year-old Pennsylvania man

The FBI identified the shooter, who is dead, as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A motive wasn't clear.

www.nbcnews.com

Am grateful and relieved the president's ok. There is nothing but grief for those who died, who were injured, and who were traumatized as a result of these actions.

How did it happen? When I see things like this, I always (oddly) think of Jonestown, where Jim Jones had his utopian compound. When some of Jones' followers appealed to a visiting congressman (Leo Ryan) to escape, the congressman arranged for their transport out of Guyana via small planes back to the US. Jones was enraged, and some of Jones' enforcers followed them out to the airstrip and gunned down many members of the party in cold blood-- including the congressman and journalists. Nobody thought it could happen, just like nobody thought something like 9/11 could happen. And that's how I believe such things do end up happening. Is that how this ended up happening? It may have had a role because Trump does many, many functions. Hecklers, yes. But something like this? It makes your mouth hang open in shock.

Why did this person do it? We don't know and I'm sure because of the magnitude of the circumstances, we'll be slow to find out. I don't really know how someone expected to even attempt what this person did and escape alive, but I'm reading he did. Why, why'd this person do this? We're all talking about it, I'm shocked by it, that shock factor was undoubtedly part of the draw for this person, but what was he trying to produce the shock for? There is very little known about him. So we have this obscure individual who felt the need to murder, to traumatize, to end up on the front page of every newspaper in the US. Why? Maybe his obscurity will end up as part of the answer, but I don't think we'll have any answer for quite a long time.

 

[vls12345]

This person got off eight shots before they took him down. That is a terrifying thought.

Trump rally shooter identified as 20-year-old Pennsylvania man

The FBI identified the shooter, who is dead, as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A motive wasn't clear.

www.nbcnews.com

Am grateful and relieved the president's ok. There is nothing but grief for those who died, who were injured, and who were traumatized as a result of these actions.

How did it happen? When I see things like this, I always (oddly) think of Jonestown, where Jim Jones had his utopian compound. When some of Jones' followers appealed to a visiting congressman (Leo Ryan) to escape, the congressman arranged for their transport out of Guyana via small planes back to the US. Jones was enraged, and some of Jones' enforcers followed them out to the airstrip and gunned down many members of the party in cold blood-- including the congressman and journalists. Nobody thought it could happen, just like nobody thought something like 9/11 could happen. And that's how I believe such things do end up happening. Is that how this ended up happening? It may have had a role because Trump does many, many functions. Hecklers, yes. But something like this? It makes your mouth hang open in shock.

Why did this person do it? We don't know and I'm sure because of the magnitude of the circumstances, we'll be slow to find out. I don't really know how someone expected to even attempt what this person did and escape alive, but I'm reading he did. Why, why'd this person do this? We're all talking about it, I'm shocked by it, that shock factor was undoubtedly part of the draw for this person, but what was he trying to produce the shock for? There is very little known about him. So we have this obscure individual who felt the need to murder, to traumatize, to end up on the front page of every newspaper in the US. Why? Maybe his obscurity will end up as part of the answer, but I don't think we'll have any answer for quite a long time.

Eight shots?!?

 

[Knox]

Yeah. It’s not like this was a close range shooting where people would actually be able to see what happened. I’m sure most of them didn’t realize what was going on at the time.

That's the truth, many of them in the bleachers directly behind trump were still standing. People who were interviewed said they initally thought it was firecrackers going off. I don't think your mind immediately goes to "it's a shooter".

 

[vls12345]

That's the truth, many of them in the bleachers directly behind trump were still standing. People who were interviewed said they initally thought it was firecrackers going off. I don't think your mind immediately goes to "it's a shooter".

Yeah, I think some people hadn't processed the true danger.

Plus, there, they probably felt there was a sense of security exactly because of the Secret Service and other LE, as well as strict rules about what was allowed inside the rally area, checks to enter, etc. I think that also may have made people slower to react. Imo.

 

[margarita25]

That's the truth, many of them in the bleachers directly behind trump were still standing. People who were interviewed said they initally thought it was firecrackers going off. I don't think your mind immediately goes to "it's a shooter".

I had perhaps mistakenly thought many remained standing and stationary after it was known people got shot, I guess I need to watch the videos again. Haven’t really gotten into the video analysis yet. Pretty shaken up by the whole thing.

Whatever the case, one of my first thoughts was these people are brave, sticking around…

 

[TootsieFootsie]

My first thought on seeing photos of him, once it was made clear it was actually him, was that to me he looked like he had some kind of disability.
Not like downs syndrome but something that rings a bell when I look at him.

 

[Knox]

I had perhaps mistakenly thought many remained standing and stationary after it was known people got shot, I guess I need to watch the videos again. Haven’t really gotten into the video analysis yet. Pretty shaken up by the whole thing.

Whatever the case, one of my first thoughts was these people are brave, sticking around…

I would have turned into a pancake once I saw Trump go down.

 

[Lucy6226]

I think the fact that people didn't panic probably saved lives. If people has started running there no doubt would have been more injuries and possibly crushings. I suspect all the security led them to think it was anything but a shooter

 

[Chimera]

Even if the perp accessed the roof fully outside of the rally perimeters, i.e., the area people had to pass through metal detectors --- then that was too small !
Roughly 150 yards was the distance from the perp to Trump, or 450 feet; and the perimeter was less than that, as it didn't include the buildings to the side ?

Since a bullet can travel much farther than that, why not secure as large a distance as a perp could reasonably shoot someone ?
They needed someone on that roof and prob. the building & roof behind that one as well.
This could have been even worse if there'd been more than the single perp.

I'm questioning if the secret service decided the area outside of the staging and crowd areas didn't need beefed-up security; and they thought the other buildings didn't pose a threat ?
And if so, why ?

My opinion and am saying this a layperson without experience in security --I would have made sure any rooftops had secret service in place as a precaution.
Too close and too tempting for a deranged shooter.
Omo.

 

[LadyL]

Warning, Graphic

I hadn’t seen this video/angle yet, still watching, not sure if already posted

utter chaos that poor woman at the end too ... I hope she was ok

 

[Knox]

My first thought on seeing photos of him, once it was made clear it was actually him, was that to me he looked like he had some kind of disability.
Not like downs syndrome but something that rings a bell when I look at him.

I'm not seeing a disability, but his face sort of reminds me of Zach Roloff without the glasses (no offense to Zach who is an awesome husband & Dad).

 

[margarita25]

Any updates on other two victims that were in critical condition yesterday? I know I can Google…

 

[MassGuy]

Any updates on other two victims that were in critical condition yesterday? I know I can Google…

The deceased victim was identified as Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, Pa.

The second victim, who was wounded in the shooting, has been identified as 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington, Pa. He is currently listed in stable condition. The third victim, who is also listed in stable condition, was identified as James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pa., according to a media release from state police.

Pennsylvania State Police identify 3 victims shot at Trump rally

Both patients who were hospitalized are now in stable condition, per state police.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Arkay]

So we have this obscure individual who felt the need to murder, to traumatize, to end up on the front page of every newspaper in the US. Why? Maybe his obscurity will end up as part of the answer, but I don't think we'll have any answer for quite a long time.

IMO sometimes people are just unknowable.
We don’t have the motive yet, although I certainly hope the investigation will yield some clues.

It could be anything. His schoolmate said in a link above that Tom always stood alone as a conservative while the other kids were liberals.

It could be that he started somehow to blame Trump for “causing” him to be an outcast. Or conversely, he could have hero-worshipped Trump and wanted their names to be inextricably bound forever. Or he knew he’d be killed by LE and wanted Trump and himself to die “together.”

Or else it could be like John Hinckley, as people have mentioned, and the motive was what we would consider outlandish—to “impress” a movie star or something else equally baffling to us.

Or it could be like Mark David Chapman who was obsessed with John Lennon.

It could be that Tom Crooks didn’t know himself why, but felt some kind of compulsion. It could be the incel theory and wanting to get somebody’s attention, or the loner theory of suicide by cop.

It could be that he did indeed switch from a conservative to a liberal and Trump became an obstacle in his mind.

It could be rage against his parents for being mental health professionals but in his mind they didn’t recognize he had mental health issues.

We don’t know and I hope LE finds out.

The one thing I do discount is that he snapped. What he did took an ultra amount of planning, especially when we found out he had explosives in his vehicle. Who knows what the next part of his plan would’ve been had he survived.

My heart breaks for the hero who died and for his family, and wishing a speedy recovery to the two victims in the hospital.

Just my speculations.

 

[vls12345]

Minute-by-minute timeline:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/politics/timeline-trump-rally-shooting-dg/index.html

 

[margarita25]

I’m concerned about misplaced justification as related to retaliation.

I hope no more violent acts occur against anyone, in response to this specific incident, and everyone will solely blame the individual responsible for this act. I’m concerned about some out there (not here) trying to blame others than the shooter.

 

[Friday Fan]

I think he was plain old suicidal and like many other mass shooters wanted to bring others down with him.

Sure Trump was his target, but so was the crowd. He likely had no real motivation to do what he did. He just had a "different crowd" than a schoolroom full of kids. So many of these shootings are about "shock value". He took it to another level. I hope there isn't a copy-cat. MOO

 

[Gemmie]

I’m concerned about misplaced justification as related to retaliation.

I hope no more violent acts occur against anyone, in response to this specific incident, and everyone will solely blame the individual responsible for this act. I’m concerned about some out there (not here) trying to blame others than the shooter.

It's already started and really, really needs to stop IMO. People at the event were blaming the press who are just there to do their job and report the news. I don't even understand why anyone would think it's their fault, but apparently some do.

Moments after Donald Trump was rushed to safety following a failed assassination attempt at a Saturday night rally, some of his supporters turned toward the press pen with obscenities as they fingered reporters for blame.

“This is your fault!” one attendee emphatically yelled, pointing at individual journalists as he approached the fence line separating them from attendees. “This is your fault!”

“It is your fault!” exclaimed another.

Axios reporter Sophia Cai, who quoted some in the crowd warning the press, “you’re next” and that their “time is coming,” even reported that a few rally goers tried to breach the barriers establishing the press pen, but that they were stopped by security personnel.

https://www.cnn.com/trump-supporters-blame-media/index.html