The assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump unfolded in seconds at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday.
Here are eleven indelible images capturing the moment when what sounded like three initial shots rang out and the aftermath of the seconds of danger–and death–which rocked America.
The most astonishing image of the day was taken by Doug Mills, the New York Times' award-winning White House photographer. The Times highlighted the bullet's trail whizzing past Trump's head in the microseconds after he was grazed by it. The picture is likely to become one of the defining images of the sniper's attempt to murder Trump.
Doug Mills/New York Times
The first indication that something had happened was when Trump suddenly grabbed towards his ear. A bullet had just whizzed by and grazed him.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Trump began to react physically to the bullet grazing him. Behind him his crowd of supporters began to register that something dramatic had happened–but it was still unclear what.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Secret Service agents rushed to cover Trump and a member of its counter-assault team with a rifle rushed in front of the lectern.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The former president asked for his shoes and then said, “Wait, wait, wait,” as agents tried to whisk him off the stage.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty
“Fight, fight, fight,” Trump mouthed to the crowd as he thrust his fist in the air. Evan Vucci's image for the Associated Press immediately became a viral sensation.
Evan Vucci/Associated Press
Rushed by the Secret Service to the waiting armored car, Trump raised his fist for a final time, blood streaming down his ear from the wound at the top of it.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
One supporter attending the rally was killed by a bullet, according to authorities. Another two were critically injured. All the victims were male. Among the people in the crowd, one of the Trump supporters who rushed to help and was covered in blood was an emergency room doctor.
Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
The suspected shooter, Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old from a suburb of Pittsburgh around 42 miles from the rally site was “neutralized” by the Secret Service immediately after the attack. His body could be seen on the roof of a building around 120 yards from the podium where Trump had been speaking.
Andalou/Getty Images
Trump’s shoe was left on the stage on the spot where it come off as his Secret Service detail rushed to cover him. He was taken to a local medical facility.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
