911 Calls Released From Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania

The shocking 911 calls from the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, have finally been released. These recordings, which NBC News and other outlets fought to obtain, capture the terrifying moments after a gunman opened fire on the crowd, tragically killing one Trump supporter and injuring two others.

In the 15 calls made to emergency services between 6:12 p.m. and 6:47 p.m., frantic voices described the horrific scene. The first caller, a woman, screamed, "Gunshots at the Trump rally. Gunshots-" as the dispatcher calmly assured her that help was on the way. “Better get over here quick!” she added, a desperate plea that reflects the sheer terror unfolding.

• The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple shots, hitting Trump in the ear and killing rally-goer Corey Comperatore.

• Two others, Jim Copenhaver and David Dutch, were seriously injured in the attack.

• A Secret Service sniper acted swiftly, neutralizing Crooks while other agents moved Trump to safety.

The recordings reveal the chaos, with one caller frantically stating, "We’re at the Trump assembly and there’s a guy shooting. He’s been shooting up the place." Another reported, "They just tried to kill President Trump. You might want to make a note of that. Thank you," as if trying to convey the magnitude of the attack amidst the confusion.

This security breach led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle the day after the attack, following intense scrutiny and backlash from both the public and Congress. She had been grilled by lawmakers over the agency’s failure to prevent such a disaster at a high-profile event like a Trump rally, especially in a heightened security environment where threats were evident.

Her resignation paved the way for Ronald Rowe, the deputy director of the Secret Service, to step in as acting director. In response to the attack, Rowe acknowledged the gaps in security and swiftly implemented a series of protective enhancements. These measures included the expanded use of drones for threat detection and a push to improve communication between federal and local authorities. Rowe also ordered the expeditious approval of protective detail requests and directed maximum personnel to be deployed at future events.

It’s clear that this terrifying incident has reshaped how the Secret Service will handle security for prominent political figures moving forward. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, ensuring the safety of candidates especially someone as controversial and significant as Donald Trump must remain a top priority.

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