Honestly, it feels like forever ago, but it’s only been about a year and a half since the world stopped to look at a small farm show in Butler, Pennsylvania. You’ve probably seen the photo. The one with the blood, the fist in the air, and the American flag perfectly framed in the background. But even now, people still ask the basic question: was Donald Trump shot, and if so, how on earth did it happen?
The short answer is yes. On July 13, 2024, at approximately 6:11 p.m., a 20-year-old named Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a rooftop just 150 yards away from the stage. He wasn't some elite operative. He was a local kid with a rifle he bought from his dad.
The Moment Everything Changed in Butler
Trump was talking about border crossing charts. He turned his head—just a tiny bit—to look at a screen. That split-second movement likely saved his life. A 5.56mm bullet from an AR-15 style rifle zipped through the air and clipped the upper part of his right ear.
He felt it immediately. He described it as a "whizzing sound" followed by the sensation of something ripping through his skin. He hit the ground. Secret Service agents piled on top of him. In the chaos, Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief in the crowd, was killed while shielding his family. Two other men, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were seriously wounded.
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What most people get wrong about the injuries
There was a ton of back-and-forth about whether it was a bullet or a piece of glass from a teleprompter. The FBI eventually cleared that up. It was a bullet. Dr. Ronny Jackson, the former White House physician who treated him afterward, noted that the bullet took a 2cm wide chunk out of the cartilaginous surface of the ear. It bled like crazy because, well, ears have a lot of blood vessels.
The healing process was interesting. A plastic surgeon, Dr. Frederick Weniger, recently looked at the scarring and noted some "bumpiness" at the back edge where the tissue was lost. Most people wouldn't notice it from a distance, but the ear basically had to grow back its own skin. No major reconstructive surgery, just a lot of bandages and time.
How did the Secret Service miss him?
This is where the story gets really messy. The shooter, Crooks, was on the roof of the American Glass Research (AGR) building. The Secret Service actually knew about him way before he fired.
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Local snipers saw him at 5:10 p.m.—a full hour before the shooting. He was acting weird. He had a rangefinder. They even took photos of him. But because of a massive "communication breakdown," that info didn't get to the guys standing right next to Trump.
A series of "unacceptable" failures
- The Roof: The AGR building was outside the "secure perimeter," so nobody was actually on the roof. The Secret Service thought local police had it covered; local police thought the Secret Service was handling it.
- The Radios: Different teams were on different radio channels. The guys in the "Security Room" couldn't talk directly to the snipers on the buildings.
- The Drone: Crooks flew a drone over the site earlier that day to scope it out. The Secret Service had drone detection tech, but it wasn't working right because of "technical issues."
Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks?
The FBI spent over a year digging into this kid’s life. They looked at his phone, his laptop, his childhood—everything. Honestly? They didn't find a manifesto. No "I hate Trump" diary. No "I love a specific ideology" posts.
He was kinda lonesome. A math and science kid who worked at a nursing home. He was a registered Republican but had once donated $15 to a progressive group. Investigators basically concluded he was looking for "notoriety." He had searched for both Trump and Biden rally dates. It seems he just wanted to make a "big move" and Butler was the closest opportunity.
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What happened next?
The aftermath was a whirlwind. Kimberly Cheatle, the Director of the Secret Service at the time, resigned after a brutal Congressional hearing. The agency had to completely change how they do things. Now, you’ll notice bulletproof glass at outdoor rallies and way more drones in the sky.
Politically, it was a massive shock to the system. For a few days, the country actually felt... united? Both sides condemned the violence. Trump showed up at the RNC with that big white bandage on his ear, and his poll numbers jumped. Of course, the news cycle moved on when President Biden dropped out of the race shortly after, but the "fist pump" photo remains one of the most iconic images in American history.
Actionable Insights: Staying Informed and Safe
If you’re following political events or attending rallies, here’s how to navigate the current climate:
- Check Multiple Sources: In the hours after a major event like this, rumors fly. Stick to primary source reports (like the FBI or Congressional Task Force findings) rather than social media speculation.
- Understand Security Protocols: If you attend a high-profile event, expect heavy magnetometers and restricted perimeters. The "Butler failure" led to much stricter "line-of-sight" mitigations, meaning you'll see more physical barriers like shipping containers or screens.
- Report Suspicious Activity: One lesson from Butler is that "see something, say something" matters. Law enforcement saw Crooks, but the delay in "connecting the dots" was the fatal flaw. If something feels off at a public gathering, notify on-site security immediately.
- Acknowledge the Psychological Impact: Political violence is heavy stuff. If you find yourself doomscrolling or feeling anxious about the state of the country, it's okay to step back from the news for a bit.
The Butler shooting wasn't just a news story; it was a total breakdown of the systems meant to keep our leaders safe. We’re still seeing the ripples of it today in every security line and every campaign speech.