Butler County, Pennsylvania, a region deeply entrenched in its support for former President Donald Trump, unexpectedly became the focal point of national attention due to a chilling incident: a shooting at a Trump rally. This staunchly Republican area, known for its unwavering allegiance to Trump, found itself grappling with the unsettling reality of violence striking at the heart of their political convictions. The question, “Where Was Trump Shot?”, immediately surged in online searches as people sought to understand the location and circumstances of this alarming event.
To understand the significance of this incident, it’s crucial to grasp the political landscape of Butler County. This is Trump country, through and through. Driving through Butler County, the visual cues are unmistakable. Billboards featuring bold pronouncements of support for Trump are a common sight. One particularly striking billboard displays a picture of Trump with his fist raised, emblazoned with the word “Bulletproof,” a clear reference to the shooting incident that occurred within their community. Another billboard, more overtly political, reflects the region’s conservative leanings with the message: “Even my dog hates Biden.” The 2020 election results underscore this deep-seated Republican preference, with Trump garnering twice as many votes as Joe Biden in Butler County. This pattern extends further back, with Hillary Clinton also being defeated by a significant margin in 2016. Historically, Butler County’s Republican stronghold is undeniable; it has voted Democrat only once in presidential elections over the past 150 years.
While Butler County proudly identifies as the birthplace of the American Jeep, a symbol of American resilience and manufacturing prowess, recent events have unfortunately overshadowed this historical claim to fame. Now, Butler is perhaps more prominently, and somberly, known as the location “where was Trump shot”. It was at the Farm Show grounds in Butler on July 13th that a bullet narrowly missed the former president, grazing his ear in what could have been a catastrophic assassination attempt. As Donald Trump prepared to return to the very same spot for a rally on a Saturday evening, the community of Butler was still undergoing a process of collective healing and reflection.
Trump’s rally was scheduled to commence around 5:00 PM local time (21:00 GMT). Security measures were visibly heightened, with reports indicating a site lockdown well in advance of his arrival. Adding another layer of intrigue to this event was the confirmed presence of Elon Musk, the influential figure behind X, Tesla, and SpaceX. This rally marked Musk’s first public appearance at a Trump event since endorsing the former president, further amplifying the significance of Trump’s return to Butler.
In the lead-up to Trump’s return, the BBC sought out and spoke with individuals who were present at the Farm Show grounds on that fateful day in July, mere feet away from the unfolding danger. These eyewitness accounts reveal a mixture of emotions: sadness, guilt, and resentment. There’s a palpable sense of dismay among local Republicans that such an event could occur in their deeply pro-Trump county.
Eyewitness Accounts: Sadness and Resentment in Butler
Jim Hulings, the chairman of the Butler County Republican Party, vividly recalls the terror of that day. Standing approximately 30 feet from Trump when the shots rang out, Hulings’ immediate fear was that the former president had been killed. “That was the saddest moment of my life,” he recounted, expressing horror at the audacity of someone attempting to harm “a great man.”
Jondavid Longo, the mayor of Slippery Rock, a town near Butler, had been part of the pre-rally warm-up act, standing on stage moments before the shooting began. His instinct upon hearing gunfire was to shield his pregnant wife, using his body as a protective barrier. Longo admits to constantly reliving the incident, “It’s a difficult thing for us to come to terms with,” he states, also acknowledging the guilt felt by many that someone else tragically lost their life that day, and others were seriously wounded.
Corey Comperatore: A Hero Remembered
The person who tragically lost his life was Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former volunteer firefighter. In an act of selfless heroism, Comperatore shielded his wife and daughters from the bullets, sacrificing himself to protect his family. His widow, Helen, is visibly consumed by grief. “I think about it every day. I see it every time I close my eyes,” she shares, her voice heavy with sorrow.
Corey and Helen were childhood sweethearts, their marriage spanning 29 years. Both were ardent Trump supporters. Helen recounted a poignant detail: on the day of the rally, they had jokingly speculated that Trump might invite Corey onto the stage. In a moving tribute, days after his death, Corey’s fire chief jacket was taken to the Republican convention in Milwaukee and placed on stage as Trump delivered his nomination acceptance speech. “I just cried because, you know, I said he got his moment on stage with Trump,” Helen explained, finding a bittersweet solace in the gesture.
Security Lapses: Unanswered Questions in the Trump Shooting
Like Helen, many Trump supporters in Butler are haunted by unanswered questions, particularly concerning the security failures that allowed the shooting to occur. While the motive of the 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, remains unclear, the investigation has revealed a series of critical security blunders.
Incredibly, two hours prior to the shooting, Crooks was able to fly a drone over the rally site undetected. This lapse occurred because Secret Service counter-surveillance equipment was malfunctioning. Adding to the security failures, communication breakdowns meant that suspicious sightings of Crooks, reported an hour and a half before he opened fire, were not effectively relayed to all Secret Service personnel.
A particularly alarming lapse occurred over half an hour before the shooting. Police officers observed Crooks using a rangefinder pointed towards the stage – a device commonly used by hunters to target prey. Despite this clear warning sign, no immediate action was taken. Just over 25 minutes later, Crooks managed to climb onto the roof of a nearby business and fire eight shots. Within seconds, his life ended with a single shot to the head from a Secret Service sniper.
Lingering Trauma: “I See It Every Time I Close My Eyes”
The seconds surrounding the shooting remain etched in the memories of those who witnessed it. Lucie Roth, positioned in the VIP seats behind Trump, is visible in a widely circulated Reuters photograph of the incident. Initially mistaking the gunfire for fireworks, Roth quickly realized the danger when she heard shouts of “Get down!” and instinctively dropped to the floor. “I truly thought he was dead,” she confessed, describing seeing Secret Service agents “pile on top of him like he was the quarterback at a football game.” It was only the subsequent roar of the crowd that signaled to her Trump was unharmed.
Renae Billow and her 11-year-old son, Gino Benford, a young Trump impersonator, were also close to the unfolding chaos, positioned near Lucie Roth. Gino, recognizable in the Reuters photo with his blond wig and dark suit, described his reaction as “half and half” – both scared and strangely calm. “I thought, who would want to do this to such a great president?” he pondered, reflecting the shock and disbelief felt by many.
Greg Smith: The Voice of Frustration and Revelation
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, as rally attendees began to leave, one man stood out. Greg Smith, wearing a Trump hat adorned with fake orange hair and holding a beer, gave an interview that would resonate globally. Smith recounted witnessing the gunman on the roof and his desperate attempts to alert the Secret Service. His words became the first public indication of the catastrophic security failures, with a clip of the interview going viral, viewed tens of millions of times on social media.
Revisiting his store near the shooting site, Smith remains visibly frustrated. “I was very frustrated when I talked to you, extremely frustrated because I think of the time frame. He was on that roof for minutes, crawling, and we were pointing and yelling,” he explained. “I remember thinking ‘Why? Why isn’t someone doing something? How is this happening? How do I still hear President Trump talking as this is going on?'”
Despite his initial reluctance to be in the public eye, Smith acknowledges a sense of pride in speaking out. He is now often told he is a part of history, the person who first brought the security failures to light. “I jumped out of my comfort zone and did that. And I’m glad that it went like it did, that everything I told you that night has proven to be true,” he stated. Despite living so close to the event location, Greg Smith chose not to attend Trump’s return rally, citing the trauma experienced by his 12-year-old son, who now reacts strongly to loud noises like fireworks.
Moving Forward: Remembrance and Resilience in Butler
In contrast to Greg Smith, Helen Comperatore and her daughters decided to return to the rally, a testament to their resilience and unwavering support. For Helen, attending was a way to honor Corey’s memory. “I have tried to do that with everything I do, what would he want me to do? What would Corey do? And that’s how I go,” she explained, demonstrating a poignant determination to carry on in the face of profound loss.
The shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, at the Trump rally, serves as a stark reminder of the potential for violence in the political landscape. While the question “where was Trump shot” directs us to a specific location, the incident’s ramifications extend far beyond geographical coordinates. It highlights critical security vulnerabilities, the profound impact of violence on a community, and the enduring strength of personal and collective resilience in the face of tragedy. The community of Butler, while forever marked by this event, continues to heal and remember, grappling with the events of that day and moving forward with a mixture of sadness, defiance, and unwavering spirit.
