BUTLER, Pa. — In the wake of a‌ shocking assassination attempt, former President Donald⁢ Trump urged for unity and resilience ‌on Sunday. The incident, which left him ⁣injured but in good health, also ⁣resulted in the death ⁣of the assailant and a ‌rally attendee, causing‌ leaders across the political spectrum ⁣to ‍express their shock.

The likely Republican presidential nominee revealed that‍ the upper section of his right ear ⁤was grazed in the shooting. His team reassured the public that⁤ he was in ⁣high spirits and recovering well.

“The moment I heard the whizzing ‍sound of bullets ‌and felt the piercing ‌pain of the bullet tearing through⁣ my skin, I knew something was terribly wrong,” he⁢ shared on his social media platform.​ “There was a lot of bleeding.”

In a follow-up‍ post⁤ on Sunday, Trump attributed his survival to divine intervention, stating, “it was solely God who prevented the unimaginable​ from happening.”

“Now, more than ever, we need to stand ⁣united, showcasing our true⁢ American spirit by remaining‍ strong and determined, and not letting evil triumph,” he added in his post.

The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old⁢ Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, early on Sunday as they continued their ‍investigation. An FBI representative stated that the motive behind the attack was still unclear.

Secret Service ⁢agents shot and ⁢killed Crooks, who launched his attack from an elevated position outside ⁣the rally venue at a farm show in Butler, according to the agency.

One attendee was killed, and two others were critically injured in the attack. All victims were identified as males.

Investigators believe that Crooks’ father purchased the weapon used in the attack at least⁢ six months prior. Federal ​agents are still trying to determine how and when ⁢Crooks​ obtained the⁣ gun and are gathering more information about him.

The officials, who were not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation, spoke to‍ The Associated ⁤Press on the condition⁣ of anonymity.

Crooks’ ⁤political affiliations were not immediately clear. Records show that ​he was registered as​ a Republican voter in Pennsylvania. However,​ federal campaign finance reports also indicate that he donated $15‌ to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021,‌ the day President Joe Biden was inaugurated.

Authorities informed reporters that Crooks did not have any ​identification on him at the time of the ⁤attack,​ so they are using DNA and other methods to confirm his identity. An AR-style⁣ rifle was recovered from the scene, according to a source familiar with the investigation ⁤who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The attack‌ marks the most ⁤severe assassination⁣ attempt ​on⁣ a president or ‌presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. The incident has reignited concerns about‍ political violence in a deeply divided U.S., just months before the presidential election. It could potentially impact the tone ‍and security measures at the​ upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which ​begins on Monday.

Despite⁢ the incident, organizers confirmed that the convention would proceed as planned.

After visiting a local Pennsylvania hospital, Trump flew to New Jersey, landing shortly after midnight at ‌Newark Liberty International Airport. A⁣ video posted by⁣ an ‍aide showed the former president exiting his private jet, surrounded by Secret⁤ Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter-assault team, in an ⁤unusually visible display of⁢ his protective detail.

President Biden, who is⁤ running against ​Trump, ​was ⁢briefed on the attack​ and spoke to Trump several hours⁣ after the shooting, according to the White House.

“This type of violence⁣ has no place ‍in America,” the president said. “It’s sick. It’s sick.”

Biden cut short his‌ weekend at his⁢ beach‌ home ⁣in Rehoboth Beach,⁢ Delaware, to return to Washington‍ late ⁤on Saturday.

Many Republicans were quick to blame the violence on Biden and his allies, arguing that their continuous attacks on Trump as⁢ a threat to democracy have created a toxic environment. They specifically pointed to a ‌comment ⁢Biden made to donors on July 8, stating “it’s time to ‍put Trump in ​the bullseye.”

Officials confirmed that the counter-assault team killed the shooter. This heavily armed tactical team accompanies the president and⁢ major ⁤party nominees everywhere and is tasked with confronting any active threats while other Secret Service agents focus⁣ on protecting and evacuating the person at the center of protection.

An AP analysis of over ⁤a dozen videos and photos from the scene of ‍the Trump rally, as well as satellite imagery of the site, shows that the shooter was able to get ‌alarmingly close to the stage where⁣ the former president was speaking.

A video posted on social media and geolocated by the AP shows the body of a person wearing gray camouflage lying motionless on ‍the roof of ‍a building at AGR International, a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump’s rally was held.

The roof where the person lay was less than 164 yards from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a skilled marksman‌ could reasonably hit a human-sized target. For reference, 150 meters is the distance at which U.S.‍ Army recruits must hit a scaled⁢ human-sized silhouette ‍to qualify with the M-16 rifle. The AR-15, like the one used by the shooter at the Trump rally, is the‍ semi-automatic civilian version of the military⁤ M-16.

The range from which Crooks fired and his clothing led to early speculation that the shooter had⁤ military experience. However, all the branches of the military searched their records on Sunday and‌ stated in response to an⁢ AP query that they had no records of him serving.

When asked at ⁢a news conference whether law enforcement was unaware of the shooter’s presence on the roof until he began firing,⁢ Kevin Rojek, the agent in charge of the FBI’s⁢ Pittsburgh field office,​ responded, “that is our assessment ⁢at this time.”

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“It is surprising” that the gunman was able to open fire on the stage before⁤ the ‌Secret​ Service‌ killed him, he​ added.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro ‍Mayorkas, whose department oversees the Secret Service, stated that officials were‍ in contact with the Biden and Trump campaigns ⁣and were “taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.”

Trump was‍ presenting‌ a chart of border​ crossing numbers when⁣ the gunfire erupted after 6:10 p.m.

As the first shot rang out, Trump said “Oh” and raised his hand to ‍his right ear⁢ and looked at⁤ it, before quickly crouching to the ground behind his lectern.‍ The people⁢ in the stands behind him ​also crouched as screams echoed through the crowd.

Someone ⁤near the microphone could be heard shouting, “Get down,⁣ get down, ​get ⁤down, get down!” ​as agents rushed to the stage. They piled atop the former president to shield him‍ with their bodies as other agents took up positions⁢ on stage to search for the threat.

Afterward, voices were heard saying, “Shooter’s down” several times, before someone asked, “Are we good to move?” and “Are we clear?” Then someone ordered, “Let’s move.”

Trump could be heard on the video⁣ saying at least twice, “Let me get my shoes,” with another voice heard saying, ⁢”I’ve​ got you, sir.”

Trump stood up moments later and​ could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his face, which was streaked with blood.​ He then ​pumped his fist in the air and appeared to mouth the word “fight” twice to his crowd of supporters, prompting⁢ loud cheers⁢ and ​then chants of​ “USA. ⁣USA. USA.”

His motorcade left the venue moments later. Video showed Trump turning⁢ back to the crowd and raising a fist right before he was put into a vehicle.

When the firing began, “everybody went to their ⁢knees or their prone position, because we all knew.⁢ Everyone becoming ⁣aware of the fact this was gunfire,” said Dave McCormick, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, ‍who was sitting to Trump’s ⁤right on stage.

As he saw Trump raise⁤ his fist, ​McCormick said, he looked over his shoulder and noticed someone had been hit while sitting in the bleachers behind the stage.

Eventually, ⁣first responders were able to carry the‍ wounded person out of a large crowd‍ so he could get medical care, ‌McCormick said.

Reporters covering the rally heard five or six shots ring out and many ducked for cover, hiding under tables. After the first two or three bangs, people in the crowd ⁤looked startled, but not panicked. An AP reporter at ‍the scene reported the ⁢noise sounded like firecrackers at first or perhaps a car backfiring.

When it was​ clear the situation had been contained and Trump would not return⁤ to speak, attendees started filing out of the venue.

Police soon told the people remaining to leave the​ venue‌ and Secret Service agents told reporters ​to⁤ get “out now. This is ‍a live crime scene.”

Two firefighters⁢ from nearby Steubenville,‍ Ohio, who were at the rally​ told the AP that they helped people who appeared hurt and heard bullets hitting‌ broadcast speakers.

“The bullets rattled around the grandstand. One hit⁣ the speaker tower, and ⁢then chaos broke,” Chris Takach said. “We hit‍ the ground, and then the police converged into the grandstands.”

“The first thing I heard is a couple of cracks,” Dave Sullivan said.

Sullivan said he saw‍ one of the speakers get hit and heard bullets rattling. “We hit the deck,” he said.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida ⁢Sen. Marco⁣ Rubio and Ohio Sen. JD ⁤Vance, three men on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, all quickly sent out statements ⁢expressing concern for the⁢ former president, with Rubio sharing an image taken as Trump was escorted off stage with ⁢his fist in ⁤the air and‍ a streak of blood on‍ his face⁢ along‌ with​ the words “God protected President Trump.”