On Saturday, CNN spoke with witnesses who recounted the harrowing scene at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one person was killed and two others were injured in what authorities are treating as a potential assassination attempt.
A man who spoke before Trump at the rally recounted how he leapt over a barricade to assist someone who had been shot and was bleeding.
Trump rally shooting witness accounts
Rico Elmore shared his experience with CNN as he left the rally stage, with his white shirt stained with the victim’s blood. Elmore mentioned he did not know the individual he tried to help.
Elmore described how he jumped over the barrier and placed his hand on the head of the bleeding victim.
“All I know is that there were gunshots, and I jumped over the barrier to help the man who was bleeding heavily,” Elmore told CNN.
He clarified that he did not recognize the victim and described himself as just a passerby.
Elmore, visibly disturbed but unharmed, mentioned he only saw one person get hit and did not witness any events involving Trump.
On Saturday, Trump reported on Truth Social that he was shot in the ear but said he was otherwise unharmed. The Secret Service later confirmed that one person was killed and two others critically injured, with the shooter being “neutralized” by their agents, according to spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi.
A law enforcement source and a police officer at the scene revealed to CNN that the shooter was stationed on a rooftop just outside the rally’s perimeter. This building was visible from Trump’s right side as he spoke, and CNN observed police presence there after the incident.
“It Was Just Chaos All of a Sudden”
Senate Republican candidate Dave McCormick, who was seated in the front row, described witnessing the immediate result of the attack on Trump and seeing a severely injured person behind him.
McCormick recounted hearing “a series of shots – about seven or eight shots – just ‘pop, pop, pop’” shortly after Trump introduced him and invited him to the stage.
“It was pure chaos all of a sudden. The Secret Service instantly covered the president and threw themselves on top of him, while the crowd dropped to the ground,” McCormick said.
He turned around to see that it was clear someone had been struck by the gunfire. The crowd was trying to provide first aid, but it took several minutes for medical personnel to reach them due to the crowd’s density.
“It was difficult to discern what was happening despite the commotion. It appeared the shots were coming from Trump’s left, which would explain why the person behind me was hit. However, it was hard to tell if shots were fired from other directions as well,” McCormick explained.
He noted that he and the approximately 15,000 people in attendance had all gone through metal detectors before entering the rally.
“It Was Just Absolute Madness”
Republican Representative Dan Meuser, who was seated in the front row with McCormick and fellow Pennsylvania Representative Mike Kelly, described the chaotic scene where the person who was fatally shot was seated just a short distance behind them.
“People immediately started screaming for medics, and it was a bloody scene,” Meuser recounted.
He described how the rally began as a typical event, but within minutes of Trump’s arrival and speech, rapid gunfire erupted. “It was clear what was happening after a few shots,” Meuser said.
“We were uncertain if there were more shooters. Gunfire creates panic because it’s hard to pinpoint the source of the shots,” he continued. “People were frightened, but things calmed down somewhat when President Trump stood up and gave a thumbs-up.”
Meuser also called for a reduction in political hostility, saying, “We need to cool things down. We’ve really got to remove the hostility.”
“It’s Just Insanity”
Joseph Meyn, who witnessed the shooting from his position at the rally, described the experience as deeply shocking.
“It was very disturbing… many thought it was fireworks at first, but I immediately recognized it as gunfire,” Meyn said.
Meyn, a surgeon from Grove City, Pennsylvania, described helping to carry the victim out of the bleachers.
“I was filming Trump on my phone when I heard a series of rapid gunshots, maybe seven or eight in just a few seconds,” Meyn said.
Looking back, he saw a man who was hit in the head and died instantly, and a woman with a noncritical hand and forearm injury.
Meyn went to see if he could help but found another doctor already assisting the injured woman.
“I helped carry the deceased man out of the stands. His body was moved to a tent behind the bleachers,” Meyn added.
As he awaited his witness statement to the FBI, Meyn reflected, “This is my first Trump rally, and it’s surreal to witness such an event.”
