TALKING TO WITNESSES,
ACQUAINTANCES, RELATIVES, FRIENDS, ANYONE THEY CAN FIND TO
GIVE THEM A SENSE OF WHAT THE
MOTIVE MIGHT HAVE BEEN. BUT THE
STARK REALITY IS THAT A LONE
ACTOR WHO IS WILLING TO USE A
GUN IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO
DETECT AND TO STOP.
>> AARON KATERSKY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. AS WE COME UP ON THE TOP
OF THE HOUR HERE, 9 P.M. IN THE
EAST, I'M WHIT JOHNSON IN NEW
YORK. AND IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING
US, WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL OF
THESE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS AFTER
THE SHOOTING AT A CAMPAIGN
RALLY, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN
BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, WAS
SLIGHTLY WOUNDED IN THE RIGHT
EAR. BUT WE'RE TOLD BY HIS
CAMPAIGN, BY HIS FAMILY THAT
HE'S DOING FINE. AUTHORITIES SAY
THE SHOTS WERE FIRED FROM A
ROOFTOP ADJACENT TO THE VENUE,
SOME 200 TO 300 YARDS AWAY,
EIGHT ROUNDS FIRED FROM AN AR
STYLE RIFLE. THAT INFORMATION,
JUST REPORTED BY OUR AARON KATERSKY AND THE SHOOTER WAS
NEUTRALIZED BY THE SECRET
SERVICE. THE SHOOTER WAS KILLED.
AUTHORITIES SAY A SECOND PERSON,
A BYSTANDER, IS ALSO DEAD. ALSO
GETTING REPORTS THAT THAT
ANOTHER SPECTATOR MAY HAVE BEEN
CRITICALLY INJURED. THE INCIDENT
IS BEING INVESTIGATED NOW AS A
POSSIBLE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S SON, DON
JR, SAYS HIS FATHER IS UNDER
OBSERVATION AT THE HOSPITAL AND
IN GOOD SPIRITS. PRESIDENT BIDEN
TONIGHT COMING BEFORE THE
CAMERAS CONDEMNING THE INCIDENT,
SAYING THERE'S NO PLACE IN THIS
COUNTRY FOR VIOLENCE. A FORMER
PRESIDENT HIMSELF ALSO RELEASING
A STATEMENT MOMENTS AGO THANKING
THE SECRET SERVICE AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT FOR THEIR RAPID
RESPONSE, DESCRIBING THE
INCIDENT, SAYING HE HEARD A
WHIZZING SOUND AND SHOTS. AND
PRESIDENT BIDEN, AS WE ALSO
NOTED THERE COMING BEFORE THE
CAMERAS, HE WAS CONDEMNING THE
VIOLENCE, SAYING ALL FEDERAL
AGENCIES ARE NOW ENGAGED. HE
ALSO TRIED TO REACH OUT TO THE
FORMER PRESIDENT PERSONALLY TO
SPEAK WITH HIM TONIGHT, THE
INCIDENT ALL PLAYING OUT BEFORE
THE CAMERAS THAT HAVE THE
HORRIFIC MOMENT HERE, THE LOUD
NOISES POPPING, THE FORMER
PRESIDENT APPEARING TO GRAB HIS
RIGHT EAR IN THAT MOMENT, SECRET
SERVICE AGENTS THEN RUSHING THE
STAGE, PROTECTING HIM WITH THEIR
BODIES LIKE A HUMAN SHIELD.
THOSE ANXIOUS MOMENTS AS
EVERYONE WAS WAITING TO SEE IF
TRUMP WAS OKAY.
>> THIS IS THE SHOCKING MOMENT.
CHAOS ERUPTED AT DONALD TRUMP'S
RALLY IN BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.
IF YOU WANT TO REALLY SEE
SOMETHING THAT SAID, TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT HAPPENED. YOU CAN HEAR
SEVERAL POPS AND SEE THE FORMER
PRESIDENT GRABBING HIS EAR,
DUCKING FOR COVER BEHIND THE
PODIUM. SECRET SERVICE AGENTS
RUSHING THE STAGE SURROUNDING
TRUMP, SHIELDING HIM, TAKING HIM
DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE
SCREAMING CROWD LOOKING ON IN
HORROR. A SHORT TIME LATER,
AGENTS CAREFULLY LIFTING THE
FORMER PRESIDENT UP.
>> SIR, I GOT YOU, SIR. LET ME
GET MY SHOES ON.
>> HOLD THAT IN YOUR HEAD.
BLOODY BLOOD CLEARLY SEEN ON HIS
FACE. >> TRUMP PUMPING HIS FIST.
AGENTS WHISKING THE FORMER
PRESIDENT OFF THE STAGE. DOWN
THE STAIRS TO A WAITING ARMORED
SUV RUSHING HIM TO A LOCAL
MEDICAL CENTER. WE HEARD WHAT WE
APPEARED TO BE. GUNFIRE COMING.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS RUSHED
OFF THE STAGE. RIGHT NOW WITH
SECRET SERVICE. HE'S BEING
ESCORTED INTO HIS VEHICLE. THIS
WAS A CHAOTIC MOMENT THAT JUST
PLAYED OUT RIGHT HERE IN
PENNSYLVANIA. PEOPLE RUNNING AND
RUSHING TO THE GROUND AS THEY
HEARD THOSE APPARENT SHOTS FIRED
TONIGHT, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN
RELEASING A STATEMENT SAYING THE
FORMER PRESIDENT IS FINE AND
BEING CHECKED OUT AT A LOCAL
MEDICAL FACILITY. JUST HOURS
AGO, THIS AREA WAS LINED WITH
TRUMP SUPPORTERS. THEY ENTERED
THAT TENT RIGHT THERE TO BE
SCREENED BY SECRET SERVICE,
GOING THROUGH METAL DETECTORS,
THEIR BELONGINGS TESTED NOW,
THIS IS THE SPACE WHERE YOU HAVE
TRUMP SUPPORTERS THAT ARE
LEAVING PANICKED AND CONFUSED AS
SECRET SERVICE AGENTS RUSH US
OUT OF THIS AREA AND BACK TO OUR
CARS TONIGHT, THE CROWD STILL IN
DISBELIEF. TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW
AND WHAT YOU HEARD. YOU SAID
THAT YOU HEARD THE POPPING
SOUNDS AND YOU GOT DOWN SOUNDS.
>> FIRST YOU THINK LIKE MAYBE
FIRECRACKERS, BUT IT CONTINUED,
IT CONTINUED, AND THEN SOMEBODY
YELLED, GET DOWN! >> WE GOT DOWN, WE GOT DOWN AND
WE HUDDLED AND WE STARTED
PRAYING. >> TONIGHT, LOCAL OFFICIALS
TELLING ABC NEWS THOSE SOUNDS
WERE, IN FACT, GUNSHOTS. LIVE
ROUNDS FIRED FROM OUTSIDE THE
SECURITY PERIMETER. THIS IS
BEING INVESTIGATED AS AN
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION. AND
TONIGHT, THE LOCAL DISTRICT
ATTORNEY TELLING ABC NEWS AT
LEAST ONE PERSON IS DEAD. AND
THE SHOOTER IS DEAD AS WELL.
TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BIDEN
ADDRESSING THE NATION. >> I HAVE TRIED TO GET A HOLD OF
DONALD. HE'S WITH HIS DOCTORS.
THEY APPARENTLY HE'S DOING WELL.
I PLAN ON TALKING TO HIM
SHORTLY. I HOPE WHEN I GET BACK
TO THE TELEPHONE. LOOK, THERE'S
NO PLACE IN AMERICA FOR THIS
KIND OF VIOLENCE. IT'S SICK.
IT'S SICK. IT'S ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY WE HAVE TO UNITE
THIS COUNTRY. WE CANNOT ALLOW
FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING. WE
CANNOT BE LIKE THIS. WE CANNOT
CONDONE THIS. BUT THE IDEA, THE
IDEA THAT THERE'S POLITICAL
VIOLENCE OR VIOLENCE IN AMERICA
LIKE THIS IS JUST UNHEARD OF.
IT'S JUST NOT APPROPRIATE. AND
WE EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY MUST
CONDEMN IT.
>> THOSE WORDS FROM PRESIDENT
BIDEN TONIGHT SAYING EVERYONE
MUST CONDEMN IT, SOMETHING THAT
WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM
POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE. AND RACHEL SCOTT IS BACK
WITH US NOW. RACHEL, YOU'VE BEEN
HERE SINCE THE BEGINNING.
TONIGHT WE WERE TALKING TO EACH
OTHER DURING WORLD NEWS AS THE
RALLY WAS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY.
AND YOU'VE BEEN GETTING THESE
HORRIFIC STORIES FROM WITNESSES.
AND YOU'RE WITH ANOTHER ONE
TONIGHT. >> YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE WITH
ANOTHER GROUP OF WITNESSES THAT
SAW WHAT HAPPENED.
>> I WILL TELL YOU HOURS AGO,
THIS AREA RIGHT HERE WAS FILLED
WITH TRUMP SUPPORTERS EAGER,
WAITING TO GO INSIDE OF THAT
RALLY RIGHT NOW, TONIGHT. THIS
IS AN AREA WHERE TRUMP
SUPPORTERS ARE GATHERING.
THEY'RE LEFT WITH SHOCK ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED. TELL ME WHAT YOU
SAW INSIDE. >> YEAH, I WAS JUST ABOUT LIKE
30FT FROM TRUMP. AND THEN I SAW
THE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN SHOT
AND THEY WERE BRINGING THEM DOWN
IN THE STANDS RIGHT ABOVE ME,
AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GET
DOWN. I JUST KEPT STANDING. BUT
I SAW YEAH, I SAW THE MAN THAT
WAS HIT IN THE HEAD. AND HE WAS
A LOT OF BLOOD, AND I KNEW THERE
WAS NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO
SURVIVE THAT. AND THEN THERE
WERE TWO OF THEM THAT THEY
BROUGHT DOWN. BUT IT WAS LIKE
REAL CHAOS AND CHAOTIC. BUT I
DIDN'T GET DOWN. AND SO IT WAS
VERY INTERESTING. WE WERE JUST
RIGHT, RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH
YOUR MIND AS YOU SAW THAT PERSON
WITH TONS OF BLOOD ON THEM?
>> YEAH.
>> AT FIRST I WAS THINKING, I
THOUGHT DIFFERENT THOUGHTS,
LIKE, MAYBE THIS WAS THE SHOOTER. AND THEN HE COMMITTED
SUICIDE. OR MAYBE SOMEONE SHOT
HIM. THAT'S WHAT MY FIRST
THOUGHTS WERE. I DIDN'T THINK
ABOUT. JUST LIKE SOMEONE THAT
WAS IN THE STANDS. YEAH THAT'S
WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> AND NOW KNOWING THAT THIS IS
SOMEONE THAT WAS IN THE STANDS,
HOW ARE YOU PROCESSING THIS?
>> NO, I THINK WE'RE ALL IN
SHOCK. YEAH WE'RE IN NUMB THAT
THIS HAPPENED. I SAY, WHEN I
HEARD THIS GOING ON, I THOUGHT
IT WAS A FIRECRACKER. IT'S LIKE
WITH KENNEDY, PEOPLE THOUGHT IT
WAS A FIRECRACKER, AND I LOOKED.
WE WERE 20 YARDS AWAY FROM
TRUMP, AND THEN WE WERE 20 YARDS
AWAY FROM WHERE I THOUGHT IT WAS
A FIRECRACKER. BUT THEN NOW I'M
THINKING MAYBE THOSE WERE
BULLETS THAT WERE GOING OVER OUR
HEAD. AND THEN THEY WERE SAYING,
GET DOWN, GET DOWN, GET OUT. WAS
I JUST WASN'T PROCESSING
SOMETHING LIKE TWO MINUTES. AND
I FINALLY HIT THE DECK. BUT I
THINK IT'S JUST LIKE YOU'RE IN
SHOCK. AND HOW DID THE GUY GET
THE GUN IN THERE? HOW DID HE GET
THE GUN? MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
>> YEAH, WELL, LET ME ASK YOU
THIS BECAUSE IS THIS YOUR FIRST
TRUMP RALLY? NO NO. SO WE I'VE
BEEN I'VE COVERED A NUMBER OF
TRUMP RALLIES. I'VE BEEN TO
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TRUMP RALLY
THIS CYCLE. YOU'VE BEEN TO A
NUMBER AS WELL. YOU'RE FULLY
AWARE OF THE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS TRUMP SUPPORTERS AS
THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY IN.
THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH
MAGNETOMETERS. YOUR BAGS ARE
SEARCHED, YOUR POCKETS ARE
SEARCHED AS WELL. AND SO ANY
AREA WHERE YOU'RE AROUND THE
FORMER PRESIDENT, THERE IS A
SENSE OF SAFETY AND SO TO HAVE
THIS OCCUR, WHAT WAS GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND AS YOU HEARD
GUNFIRE? GET DOWN, GET DOWN.
>> I THINK FIRST I WAS IN SHOCK,
BUT I DO THINK I KIND OF I'M
DRAWN TO SOME OF THIS KIND OF I
TRIED OUT FOR THE SECRET SERVICE
AND I PASSED EVERYTHING, BUT
THEN THEY SAID, TAKE YOUR
GLASSES OFF. THAT WAS THE END OF
IT. SO MY WHOLE LIFE WOULD HAVE
BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE I COULDN'T
SEE. BUT I GUESS I LIKE TO BE
WHERE THE ACTION IS IN SOME
WAYS. SO BUT I MEAN, NOT NOT
THIS. YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS
IS JUST HORRIBLE, JUST
HORRIFYING. BUT, TRUMP SURVIVED.
THAT'S THAT'S GOOD. IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE NEWS, HAD
WORSE NEWS IF HE HAD BEEN
KILLED. SO THAT'S GOOD. YOU
KNOW, AT LEAST WE HAD THAT. BUT
YEAH, WE'RE WE'RE ALL IN SHOCK.
AND IT'S REALLY SOMETHING I JUST
GOT DONE SAYING EVERY GENERATION
THINKS, WELL, WE'RE PAST THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY MORE
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS. AND THEN
YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE. AND
MAYBE THAT'S REALLY HARD TO
STALK. I THOUGHT IT WAS
FIRECRACKERS. >> YEAH. YOU THOUGHT IT WAS
FIRECRACKERS? YEAH. I MEAN, SO
MANY PEOPLE DID INITIALLY WHEN
THAT FIRST HAPPENED, THERE WAS A
LOT OF CONFUSION FOR EVERYONE
THAT WAS INSIDE OF THAT
FAIRGROUND NEAR. WE HEARD THE
POP POP POP, POP, POP SOUNDS. WE
HEARD SHOUTS OF GUNFIRE, BUT WE
DID NOT KNOW FOR SURE. WE WERE
JUST ALL TOLD TO GET DOWN AND
THEN FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT
WAS ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT
TOLD YOU ALL TO JUST STAY DOWN.
EVEN THOUGH THE FORMER PRESIDENT
WAS ALREADY ESCORTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY HAD THE SITUATION
UNDER CONTROL. >> THEY JUST KEPT SAYING, STAY
DOWN, STAY DOWN. BUT THEN
CURIOSITY OVERCAME. AFTER ABOUT
FIVE MINUTES, THEY STOOD UP AND
THERE WERE LIKE 6 OR 7 MEN WITH
AR 15 OR WHATEVER. THEY, YOU
KNOW, WERE THEY A AK 47 OR AR
15? AND THEY WERE JUST LIKE
HAWKS. THEY WERE LOOKING AROUND,
STARING AT EVERYBODY AND THEIR
GUNS READY. AND ONE GUY LOOKED
KIND OF NERVOUS. I MEAN, IT WAS
JUST I WAS JUST KEPT THINKING
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE A PART OF
HISTORY HERE, YOU KNOW? SO BUT
IT'S JUST IT'S HORRIBLE. THAT
GUY THAT WAS SHOT BECAUSE THERE
WAS SO MUCH BLOOD IN THINGS. SO,
YOU KNOW, HE WAS RIGHT ABOVE ME.
SO I THOUGHT, OH, THERE'S NO WAY
HE SURVIVED THAT. BUT YEAH, WHAT
A DAY.
>> A HARD THING TO WITNESS. AND
I SO APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING
THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH ME. AND
I'M GLAD THAT ALL OF YOU ARE
SAFE. PLEASE GET HOME SAFE AGAIN
WITH JUST THE SENSE OF
DISBELIEF, TRYING TO PROCESS
REPLAYING THOSE EVENTS OVER AND
OVER IN YOUR HEAD. THAT'S WHAT
EVERYONE HERE THAT THAT WAS
INSIDE OF THAT TRUMP RALLY IS
STILL HAVING TO CONTEND WITH AS
THEY PROCESS THE MOMENTS THAT
HAPPENED, THOSE FRANTIC AND
CHAOTIC MOMENTS OF WHAT THEY
WITNESSED INSIDE WITH.
>> YEAH, AND I CAN'T HELP BUT
THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT
OF TRAUMA AFTER THIS EVENT FOR
ALL OF THOSE WITNESSES WHO WERE
THERE. WATCH THIS UNFOLD BEFORE
THEIR VERY EYES. AND ALSO
KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW, ONE OF
THEIR ONE OF THEIR FELLOW
SUPPORTERS, SOMEBODY WHO WAS
JUST THERE, PART OF THE RALLY,
AT LEAST ONE PERSON LOST THEIR
LIFE TODAY. RACHEL SCOTT. AND TO
YOU, WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH
FOR ALL YOUR REPORTING
THROUGHOUT THE EVENING. STAND B.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU IF NEWS
DEVELOPS. BUT LET'S BRING IN
JOHN COHEN TONIGHT, ABC NEWS
CONTRIBUTOR, FORMER FBI. JOHN,
THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NOW WITH THIS
INVESTIGATION. TAKE US THROUGH
THIS PROCESS. WHERE DO THEY
BEGIN?
>> WELL, THE FIRST THING THEY'RE
GOING TO DO IS THEY'RE GOING TO
IDENTIFY THE SUSPECT. THEY'RE
GOING TO TRY TO DETERMINE
THROUGH BY EVALUATING THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, THEIR
COMMUNICATIONS, THEIR
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE
THAT THEY ARE ASSOCIATES WITH,
WHETHER THIS WAS AN ACT OF A
LONE OFFENDER OR WHETHER IT WAS
PART OF A BROADER CONSPIRACY.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE LOOKING
FOR ANY TYPE OF FOLLOW ON
EVENTS, PART OF THE DANGER IN A
SITUATION LIKE THIS IS THAT
PEOPLE MAY VIEW THIS AS EITHER
AN ACT TO BE REPLICATED OR MAY
SEEK TO RESPOND. SO LAW
ENFORCEMENT VERY QUICKLY ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY, IS
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO
PREVENT ANY RESIDUAL EVENTS
FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT.
>> JOHN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WE DO KNOW THAT THE FBI IS
JOINING THE SECRET SERVICE IN
THIS INVESTIGATION. LET'S GO
BACK TO MARTHA RADDATZ. MARTHA,
YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO SOURCES,
ALSO A MILITARY SOURCES, AND YOU
HAVE SOME NEW INFORMATION. WHAT
YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE
WEAPON. >> WELL, WE KNOW FROM OUR OWN
REPORTING FROM AARON KATERSKY
AND OTHERS HERE AT ABC THAT THEY
BELIEVE IT WAS AN AR 15 AND THAT
THE SHOOTER GOT OFF EIGHT ROUNDS
TALKING TO A MILITARY SOURCE WHO
SAID IT IS THE SAME THING AS AN
M4, WHICH THEY USE IN THE
MILITARY. WE TRAIN TO SHOOT AT
OUR RANGES OUT TO 300M WITHOUT
OPTICS OR A SCOPE. A GOOD
SHOOTER CAN EASILY SHOOT FURTHER
WITH AN OPTIC THAT'S ABOUT 330
YARDS, AND IT'S BELIEVED THE
SHOOTER WAS 200 TO 300 YARDS OU.
THIS MILITARY OFFICER SAID THE
300 YARDS IS DEFINITELY IN RANG.
NOT AN EASY SHOT, BUT 100% IN
RANGE. AND THIS IS VERY SOBERING
WIT, HE SAID. I AM SURPRISED HE
DIDN'T HIT HIM. WE DO KNOW THAT
HIS EAR WAS GRAZED AND NOT
CERTAIN EXACTLY HOW THAT
HAPPENED AT THIS POINT, ALTHOUGH
DONALD TRUMP SAID HE BELIEVED IT
WAS A BULLET GOING BY HIM. BUT I
AM SURPRISED HE DIDN'T HIT HIM.
THIS THIS MILITARY OFFICER ALSO
SAYS THAT IT WAS LIKELY, GIVEN
THE SOUNDS HE HAS BEEN LISTENING
TO ALL DAY ON THAT. ON THAT TAPE
THAT WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING AND
THAT DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF HEARD
AND EVERYBODY THERE WHO WAS
THERE THAT IT WAS FAR AWAY, BUT
THAT PERHAPS THE SHOOTER TRIED
ONE SHOT, MISSED AND THEN GOT
OFF SEVERAL VERY RAPIDLY JUST
INTO THE CROWD.
>> YEAH, 2 TO 300 YARDS AWAY.
AND THAT SHOOTER ON TOP OF A
ROOF. AND MARTHA, TO YOUR POINT,
IT IS WORTH EMPHASIZING THAT I
MEAN, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP
SAYS THAT HE HEARD THE BULLET
WHIZZING BY AND THAT IT PIERCED
THE TOP OF HIS EAR, LITERALLY
INCHES AWAY FROM TAKING HIS
LIFE. >> IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN
IF IT, IN FACT, HAS PROVEN TO BE
A BULLET THAT WENT RIGHT BY HIS
EAR. MILLIMETERS. MILLIMETERS
AND, YOU KNOW, THE WAY YOU TURN
YOUR HEAD OR YOU DON'T TURN YOUR
HEAD. AND AGAIN, THAT WE HAVE TO
EMPHASIZE THIS WAS CLEARLY IN
RANGE FOR A WEAPON LIKE THAT,
WHETHER THE SHOOTER HAD A SCOPE,
WHETHER THE SHOOTER DID NOT HAVE
A SCOPE, EVEN WITHOUT A SCOPE,
THIS MILITARY OFFICER SAYS, YOU
CAN YOU CAN TAKE SOMEONE OUT AT
THAT RANGE. AGAIN, THE DANGERS
OF THESE KINDS OF EVENTS WITH
PEOPLE WAY OUTSIDE OF THE EVENT
ITSELF, WAY OUTSIDE SECURITY.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE SECRET
SERVICE IS GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK
AT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WEL.
HOW THIS PERSON GOT ON THAT ROOF
UNDETECTED BY POLICE OR ANYONE
ELSE CARRYING A RIFLE UP THERE
CARRYING AN AR 15.
>> AND AGAIN, WE STILL DON'T
HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
THREAT ITSELF. THE MOTIVE WHO
THE SHOOTER WAS. WE HAVEN'T EVEN
BEEN TOLD BY LAW ENFORCEMENT,
YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY THINK THE
THREAT IS OVER. SO STILL A LOT
MORE INFORMATION TO COME.
MARTHA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE
APPRECIATE IT. AS ALWAYS. AND
THROUGHOUT THE EVENING HERE,
WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH MANY
OTHER EYEWITNESSES. YOU HEARD
FROM RACHEL EARLIER. WE SPOKE TO
SOME LIVE ON THE AIR WHO WERE AT
THE RALLY, DESCRIBING HOW THE
FORMER PRESIDENT HAD JUST
STARTED TO SPEAK. AND THEN THE
SHOTS RANG OUT.
>> WHAT YOU SAW AND WHAT YOU
HEARD, YOU SAID THAT YOU HEARD
THE POPPING SOUNDS AND YOU GOT
DOWN SOUNDS.
>> AT FIRST YOU THINK LIKE MAYBE
FIRECRACKERS, BUT IT CONTINUED.
IT CONTINUED. AND THEN SOMEBODY
YELLED, GET DOWN! WE GOT DOWN,
WE GOT DOWN AND WE HUDDLED AND
WE STARTED PRAYING. AND WE JUST
STARTED PRAYING. AND THANK GOD,
A LITTLE WHILE LATER, WE GOT UP
WHEN WE SAW OTHER PEOPLE GET UP,
WE SAW TRUMP GET UP, RAISE HIS
FIST LIKE LIKE, I'M OKAY. AND WE
WERE JUST WE JUST WE JUST WE
KEPT PRAYING. >> I FELT REALLY BAD. I, I'M
WORRIED ABOUT OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
WHAT KIND OF WHAT KIND OF LIFE
ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE IF THIS
GOES ON? IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT?
>> YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE
NEAR THE VERY FRONT. YOU WEREN'T
VERY FAR. NO.
>> WE WERE LIKE, FROM HERE TO
WHERE THAT DUST THING IS, IT'S.
AND IT'S.
>> AND YOU GOT DOWN. YOU SAID
YOU GOT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. YEAH,
YEAH. >> EVERYBODY YELLED GET DOWN. MY
I SAID TO TRUMP MY DAUGHTER IN
LAW LISA. SHE SAID FOR US TO
HURRY UP AND GET DOWN.
>> WELL I MEAN I SAW LIKE EVERY,
ALL THE LIKE SECRET SERVICE LIKE
KIND OF COVER TRUMP. THEY DID A
REALLY GOOD JOB ABOUT THAT.
MAKING MAKING SURE HE WAS
PROTECTED, TELLING EVERYONE TO
GET DOWN. SO I THINK THEY DID
TAKE A GOOD CARE OF LIKE MAKING
SURE EVERYONE WAS LIKE UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON
AND LIKE BEING SERIOUS, BUT NOT
FREAKING EVERYBODY OUT.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL
REACTION WHEN YOU HEARD THOSE
POPPING NOISES,
>> TO GET DOWN? YEAH. SO I
ACTUALLY LIKE MY BOYFRIEND
PUSHED ME ON THE GROUND AND
LIKE, WENT ON TOP OF ME, WHICH
WAS LIKE REALLY NICE. BUT I
THINK, A LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK
WERE A LITTLE, LIKE, TOO SHOCKED
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON
ORIGINALLY, FOR SURE. BUT I
THINK, I THINK EVERYONE LISTENED
PRETTY WELL. AND IT IT WAS
HANDLED PRETTY WELL.
>> DID YOU SEE SOME OF THAT
COMMOTION THAT WAS PLAYING OUT
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
BLEACHER, WHERE WE SAW LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENTS SORT OF SWARM
AROUND ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, OR
DID YOU ULTIMATELY JUST RUSH OU,
>> NO. WE WERE THERE FOR A
MINUTE BECAUSE THEY DID TELL US
TO GO BACK DOWN AGAIN, JUST IN
CASE. I THINK THAT WAS GOOD
BECAUSE IT HELPED. LIKE CALM
PEOPLE DOWN, BUT I THINK ONE OF
THE STANDS THAT I WAS NEXT TO,
THEY DID LIKE CARRY OUT A MAN,
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN INJURED. I'M NOT
100% SURE, BUT DEFINITELY ONE AT
LEAST. AND ON THE OTHER, STAND
ON THE OTHER SIDE, BECAUSE I WAS
ON THE RIGHT. ON THE LEFT, THERE
WERE LIKE A BUNCH OF, LIKE MEN
IN UNIFORM, LIKE SURROUNDING
SOMEONE. SO THAT WAS INTERESTING
TO SEE.
>> YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE VERY
IMPRESSED BY THE SPEED IN WHICH
SECRET SERVICE WAS ABLE TO GET
ON THAT STAGE. WITHIN SECONDS OF
ALL OF US HEARING THOSE POPPING
SOUNDS. >> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THEY DID A
GREAT JOB. I DEFINITELY FELT
PROTECTED IN THE SITUATION. THE
SNIPER WAS ON IT, WATCHING ON
GUARD. EVERYONE ON THE SCENE
LIKE DID A GREAT JOB. I MEAN,
LIKE, OF COURSE IT WAS LIKE
NERVE WRACKING IN THE MOMENT,
BUT I NEVER FELT LIKE I WAS LIKE
IN DANGER, WHICH WAS COOL. THEY
WERE ON THE PRESIDENT, WHICH I'M
VERY THANKFUL OF, AND THEY DID A
GREAT JOB, LIKE PROTECTING HIM
AND GETTING HIM OUT AS QUICK AS
POSSIBLE, HE IS DOING GOOD,
WHICH IS GOOD. YEAH.
>> I WAS, I'M THE REPUBLICAN
NOMINEE FOR, FOR THE SENATE IN
PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS IN THE FRONT
ROW, AND, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP
HAD JUST, ANNOUNCED ME AND SAID
HE WAS GOING TO HAVE ME COME UP
ON THE STAGE AND SAID, WELL,
WE'LL WAIT A MINUTE. AND THEN
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SHOTS. I
THINK PROBABLY 7 OR 8 SHOTS. IT
IT WASN'T CLEAR WHETHER THEY
WERE COMING FROM A ONE PLACE OR
TWO PLACES AT LEAST. I COULDN'T
TELL. AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS
A SWARM OF SECRET SERVICE
OFFICERS THAT, YOU KNOW, GOT ON
TOP OF AND KNOCKED DOWN
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND GOT ON TOP
OF HIM. AND, AND THEN HE, THEY
HE STOOD BACK UP AND YOU SORT OF
SAW THIS FIST COME OUT SORT OF,
DEFIANT THAT, THAT IT LOOKED
LIKE HE WAS OKAY, BUT BUT I, YOU
KNOW, YOU COULDN'T TELL FOR SUR.
IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS SOME
BLOOD, BUT IT WASN'T OBVIOUS.
AND THEN THE ENTIRE CROWD WENT
TO THE GROUND BECAUSE WE WEREN'T
SURE WHETHER THE SHOTS WERE
DONE. AND THEN, UNFORTUNATELY,
OVER MY SHOULDER, SOMEONE HAD
CLEARLY BEEN HIT. I WAS ON THE I
WAS IN THE ON THE GROUND AND UP
IN THE BLEACHERS, PROBABLY 3 OR
4 BLEACHERS UP BEHIND ME, IT
LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A MAN WHO
WAS IT WAS SEVERELY INJURED.
THERE WAS A LOT OF BLOOD. AND,
AND HIS PEOPLE AROUND HIM WERE
TRYING TO ADMINISTER FIRST AID.
AND THEN, THE POLICE, SOME
POLICE OFFICERS CAME IN AND
CARRIED HIM OUT AND PRESUMABLY
TOOK HIM TO GET, FIRST, YOU
KNOW, FIRST AID. THAT'S REALLY
ALL I COULD SEE. I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE INJURED,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS
ANYBODY APPREHENDED, BECAUSE, AS
YOU MIGHT IMAGINE IT, ONCE THAT
HAPPENED, THE CROWD WAS, IT WAS
VERY CHAOTIC, AND IT WAS VERY
HARD TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND WE'RE STILL THERE AT THE
RALLY, JUST SITTING, TRYING TO
GET OUT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS
SO BACKED UP.
>> AND DAVE, YOUR, YOUR ACCOUNT
SEEMS TO CONFIRM SOME OF THIS
REPORTING THAT WE'RE GETTING
ABOUT A SHOOTER AND POTENTIAL
BYSTANDERS WHO WERE HURT, JUST
TALK MORE ABOUT YOUR INITIAL
REACTION. I MEAN, SEEING THIS,
YOU'RE RUNNING FOR SENATE IN THE
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. YOU'RE
ABOUT TO WALK UP ON THE STAGE,
YOU'RE GETTING INTRODUCED BY THE
FORMER PRESIDENT, AND THEN YOU
HEAR THESE SHOTS RING OUT AND
THE CHAOS IN THE CROWD, WHAT WAS
GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND IN THAT
MOMENT? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT TAKES
A MINUTE TO PROCESS YOU PEOPLE
STARTED TO PANIC, ALL AROUND.
YOU COULD FEEL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
WERE VERY SCARED AND SO, YOU
KNOW, EVERYBODY JUST DROPPED TO
THE GROUND AND, YOU KNOW, IT
FELT VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE
PRESIDENT WAS UNDER ASSAULT, YOU
KNOW, AND VERY MUCH AT RISK. AND
IT WASN'T CLEAR THAT HE WAS OKAY
TO BEGIN WITH. AND THEN, YOU
KNOW, ONCE IT STARTED TO SINK
IN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE THINKING,
ARE THERE STILL SHOOTERS OUT
THERE? YOU KNOW, ARE THEY, YOU
KNOW, ARE THEY GOING TO TARGET
OTHER PEOPLE? AND, YOU KNOW, IT
WAS JUST LIKE THESE, YOU KNOW,
SITUATIONS I WAS IN I WAS IN THE
MILITARY PREVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW,
YOU REALIZE OVER TIME THAT THE
FACTS START TO COME TOGETHER. SO
YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO
DRAW TOO MANY CONCLUSIONS EARLY
ON. BUT I THINK WHAT WE ALL FELT
WAS A SENSE OF, OH, MY LORD,
WE'RE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S IN
DANGER BECAUSE THERE'S CLEARLY A
SHOOTER, AT LEAST ONE SHOOTER IN
THE CROWD AND MAYBE MORE. AND,
YOU KNOW, REALLY, I THINK SCARY
FOR EVERYBODY WHO WAS THERE AND
SHOCKING MORE, EVEN MORE THAN
SCARY. JUST SHOCKING BECAUSE
YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
RALLY AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, KIND
OF FUN. AND PEOPLE WERE, YOU
KNOW, ENTHUSIASTIC AND, AND, AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE, YOU KNOW,
THE TURN WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
>> WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO YOU
ABOUT OUR STATE OF DIVISION AND
THE POLITICS IN THIS COUNTRY
RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT
TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS BEFORE I
KNOW MORE ABOUT IT. BUT, YOU
KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT'S, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU'RE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, IF
YOU'RE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
AND YOU KNOW, YOUR SAFETY IS AT
RISK, THAT'S SCARY FOR ALL OF
US. NO MATTER WHAT PARTY YOU'RE
IN. AND SO I THINK IT'S, YOU
KNOW, IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A
MOMENT TO TAKE STOCK AND, YOU
KNOW, YOU HAD 15,000. IT SEEMED,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS A HUGE CROWD. I
WAS TOLD BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
PEOPLE THERE, 15,000 PEOPLE WHO
WERE ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTING THEIR CANDIDATE. AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, THE FORMER
PRESIDENT, HIS LIFE IS AT RISK.
AND WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE
PEACEFUL PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE
ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE ARE WOUNDED,
POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, FATALLY.
I MEAN, THAT'S A THAT'S
UNACCEPTABLE. AND IT'S NOT A
MATTER OF PARTY. THAT'S JUST
UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR IN OUR GREAT
COUNTRY.
>> I DO WANT TO GO TO LEONARD
VERDEJO, WHO IS AN EYEWITNESS
WHO WAS THERE AT THE RALLY
TODAY. HE'S JOINING US NOW ON
THE PHONE. LEONARD, CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES, I CAN HEAR YOU, SIR. HOW
ARE YOU DOING? THANKS FOR HAVING
ME ON.
>> ABSOLUTELY. LEONARD. WE'RE SO
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT THAT YOU
ARE. OKAY, CAN YOU JUST WALK US
THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT
YOU SAW? >> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. SO
EVERYBODY WAS EXCITED TO SEE THE
FORMER PRESIDENT COMING OUT. YOU
KNOW, WE WERE WE WERE ALL, YOU
KNOW, EXCITED. AND, YOU KNOW, WE
WERE ALL HAPPY. WE WERE ALL
JOYFUL. YOU KNOW, WE WERE YOU
KNOW, WE WERE ALL THERE FOR EACH
OTHER, YOU KNOW, THEN THE FORMER
PRESIDENT WAS GIVING HIS SPEECH.
THEN MOMENTS LATER, THERE WAS
SOME, YOU KNOW, POPPING SOUNDS
THAT WERE GOING OFF. THERE WERE
ABOUT MAYBE SIX OR 7 TO 8 SHOTS
THAT WERE HAPPENING. NO ONE,
NONE OF US REALLY REGISTERED AT
THE TIME. BUT THEN PEOPLE WERE
SAYING, GET DOWN, GET DOWN. EVEN
I WAS SAYING GET DOWN. OTHER
PEOPLE WERE SAYING GET DOWN AS
WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL
PRAYING. WE WERE PRAYING TO
YESHUA, THE LORD JESUS AND WE
WERE PRAYING TO HIM TO KEEP US
SAFE, KEEP US PROTECTED. BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT HAPPENED
WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE DID GET
SHOT. WHAT I DO HEAR IS THAT I
THINK TWO PEOPLE DID GET SHOT.
YOU KNOW THAT TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE, AND I BELIEVE THAT
YOU KNOW, THE FORMER PRESIDENT,
WHICH I'M GLAD HE IS SAFE. SO
NOW, LEONARD, AND AGAIN, WE
DON'T HAVE ALL THESE THINGS
CONFIRMED YET. >> SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS
YOUR PERSPECTIVE HERE. BUT WHEN
YOU SAY THAT, YOU BELIEVE THAT
TWO PEOPLE WERE SHOT, COULD YOU
ACTUALLY SEE PEOPLE, POTENTIAL
VICTIMS WHAT TO WHAT I, WHAT I
SEEN AND TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE, SIR, IS THAT, YOU
KNOW AND AGAIN, I WAS HEARING IT
FROM OTHER NEWS SOURCES AS WELL.
>> BUT WHAT THAT I SEEN WHAT I
PERSONALLY SEEN THAT THERE WAS
BLOOD ON A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW, SOMEONE WAS SHOT JUST LIKE
ABOUT FIVE FEET RIGHT BEHIND US,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. SO WE
WERE THAT CLOSE. AND THANK GOD
WE WEREN'T SHOT EITHER. >> AND WHERE WERE YOU LOCATED?
WERE YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE
VIDEO RIGHT NOW THIS IS THE
FORMER PRESIDENT BEING BROUGHT
BACK TO HIS FEET AFTER THOSE
SHOTS WERE FIRED. WERE YOU ON ON
THE STANDS BEHIND DONALD TRUMP
OR WERE YOU IN FRONT OF HIM?
>> IF YOU WERE LOOKING EXACTLY
AT HIM, WE'LL BE ON THE LEFT
SIDE. ACTUALLY, WE WERE THE LEFT
SIDE OF THE OTHER STANDS WHERE
YOU'VE SEEN THOSE BIG TVS.
>> SO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE
STANDS FACING THE PRESIDENT OR
BEHIND THE FORMER PRESIDENT,
FACING THE PRESIDENT. >> WE WERE MORE ON THE SIDES
LOOKING ON THE SIDE OF THE
PRESIDENT. SO FACING HIM.
>> AND, LEONARD, LET ME JUST ASK
YOU TO OBVIOUSLY, YOU GO TO THIS
IS THIS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THIS, THE DIVISION IN THIS
COUNTRY, THE POLARIZATION. BUT
HERE YOU ARE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE
YOU'RE EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT TO,
YOU KNOW, SUPPORT WHICHEVER
POLITICIAN YOU BELIEVE IN. AND
YOU GO TO AN EVENT LIKE THIS,
YOU DON'T EXPECT THERE TO BE
VIOLENCE. WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART
RIGHT NOW? >> WELL, WHAT'S IN THE HEART
RIGHT NOW AS I'M ENCOURAGING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO PRAY TO LORD
JESUS BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW OUR
COUNTRY IS DIVIDED.
>> AGAIN, THOSE WORDS FROM SOME
OF THE WITNESSES THAT WE HEARD
FROM THROUGHOUT THE HOURS THIS
EVENING, WHO WERE THERE INSIDE
THIS VENUE IN BUTLER,
PENNSYLVANIA, THE VENUE THE
EVENT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SORT OF
A PRECURSOR FOR THE BIG WEEK AT
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAD BEEN HINTING
THAT HE WAS GOING TO ANNOUNCE
HIS RUNNING MATE IN THE COMING
DAYS. SO ALL EYES WERE ON THIS
EVENT WHEN THE GUNFIRE RANG OUT.
AND THEN THOSE TERRIFYING
MOMENTS AND THESE IMAGES, YOU
CONTINUE TO SEE HERE WITH THE
FORMER PRESIDENT BEING ESCORTED
OFF THE STAGE WITH THE BLOOD
TRICKLING DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF
HIS FACE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT,
IN A STATEMENT ONCE AGAIN SAYING
THAT HE WAS SHOT WITH A BULLET
THAT PIERCED THE UPPER PART OF
HIS RIGHT EAR AND HE IMMEDIATELY
KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG
WHEN HE HEARD THE WHIZZING
SOUNDS AND THE SHOTS, SOME OF
OUR OTHER REPORTERS GETTING
INFORMATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
THAT THEY NOW CONFIRM THAT THE
SHOOTER FIRED AS MANY AS EIGHT
ROUNDS FROM AN AR STYLE RIFLE
WHILE PERCHED ON A ROOFTOP
ADJACENT TO THE VENUE. THE
SHOOTER WAS 200 TO 300 YARDS
AWAY AT THE TIME OF THE GUNFIRE,
AND THAT SHOOTER WAS SHOT AND
KILLED BY THE US SECRET SERVICE.
WE KNOW AT LEAST ONE SPECTATOR,
POSSIBLY TWO, WERE SHOT AND
KILLED. ONE OF THEM WE KNOW WAS
CONFIRMED DEAD. ANOTHER ONE
SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.
WE'RE STILL WAITING TO GET MORE
INFORMATION ON THAT. LAW
ENFORCEMENT ALSO UNABLE TO TELL
US AT THIS TIME WHAT THE
MOTIVATION WAS, WHO THE SHOOTER
WAS, WHETHER IT WAS A MAN OR A
WOMAN, AND WHETHER THE THREAT
FULLY HAS BEEN NEUTRALIZED OR
WHETHER IT WAS A LONE ACTOR. SO
STILL, SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT
WE NEED TO LEARN THROUGHOUT THE
COURSE OF THE EVENING AND IN THE
COMING DAYS. WELL, LET'S GO BACK
TO OUR ENTIRE TEAM WHO'VE BEEN
WITH US ON THE AIR FOR SEVERAL
HOURS NOW. JOHN KARL IS IN
MILWAUKEE BECAUSE THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE THE LOCATION FOR
ALL THE NEWS THIS WEEK AT THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.
JOHN, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO
REPUBLICAN SOURCES THERE. IN
FACT, YOU WERE IN AN INTERVIEW
WHEN REPORTS OF THESE SHOTS
FIRST CAME OUT.
>> I WASN'T IN A FORMAL
INTERVIEW, BUT I WAS STANDING ON
THE FLOOR OF THE CONVENTION WITH
THE PERSON WHO WAS RUNNING THIS
CONVENTION, MICHAEL WHATLEY, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL COMMITTEE. WE WERE
JUST, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT
THE BIG WEEKS PLANS AHEAD,
SPECULATING ON WHEN TRUMP WILL
ACTUALLY MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT
OF HIS RUNNING MATE WHEN THIS
NEWS BROKE. AND AS YOU CAN
IMAGINE, SHOCK WAVES THROUGHOUT
THE HALL. NOBODY REALLY HAD ANY
IDEA YET WHAT HAD HAPPENED OTHER
THAN THOSE INITIAL REPORTS AND
THAT SHOCKING LIVE VIDEO. HE
TOOK A CALL FROM ONE OF HIS
AIDES AND WAS WHISKED OFF THE
FLOOR TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
WAS GOING ON. THIS HAS
EFFECTIVELY PUT A FREEZE ON THE
CAMPAIGN, AT LEAST FOR THE
MOMENT, AND IT'S NOT JUST HERE
IN MILWAUKEE WHERE, ALTHOUGH THE
CONVENTION IS STARTING ON
MONDAY, YOU ARE ALREADY SEEING
REPUBLICANS FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY GATHER HERE. IN FACT,
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG
WELCOME RECEPTION TONIGHT. AS
YOU CAN IMAGINE, THAT HAS BEEN
CANCELED. ALL EVENTS, THE
PRE-CONVENTION EVENTS HAVE BEEN
CANCELED OVER ON THE DEMOCRATIC
SIDE, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE BIDEN
CAMPAIGN THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED
OUTGOING COMMUNICATIONS. THEY
SAY THAT THEY ARE WORKING TO
PULL DOWN ALL OF THE POLITICAL
AD TELEVISION ADVERTISING, ALL
THE POLITICAL ADVERTISING THAT
IS UP, AS AS THIS CAMPAIGN IS
EFFECTIVELY PUT IN A STATE OF
DEEP FREEZE AND THEN WIT, WE'RE
HEARING STATEMENTS ACROSS THE
POLITICAL SPECTRUM. I THINK MOST
PROMINENTLY FROM FORMER PRESIDENTS. WE HEARD FROM
PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH, WHO
SAID THAT LAURA AND I ARE
GRATEFUL THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
IS SAFE FOLLOWING THE COWARDLY
ATTACK ON HIS LIFE. HE COMMENDS
THE SECRET SERVICE, OBVIOUSLY,
AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS ALSO
PROTECTED BY THE SECRET SERVICE.
WE HEARD A SIMILAR STATEMENT
FROM BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA,
SIMILAR STATEMENT FROM BILL AND
HILLARY CLINTON. WE'VE HEARD A
STATEMENT, STATEMENTS FROM THE
PRESIDENT'S ALLIES AND FROM HIS
POLITICAL OPPONENTS, ALL SAYING
THAT VIOLENCE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO
PLACE IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
UNIFORMLY CONDEMNING THIS. BUT I
HAVE TO ALSO SAY WHAT WE ARE
STARTING TO HEAR SOME VERY,
UNFORTUNATE SIGNS OF EFFORTS TO
POLITICIZE THIS HORRIFIC EVENT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE NOTED
BEFORE, THIS WILL BE A BIG TEST
TO SEE HOW THE COUNTRY RESPONDS.
YOU KNOW, POLITICALLY AND IN AND
IN LIVING ROOMS AND WORKPLACES
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. JOHN THANK
YOU SO MUCH. I DO WANT TO HEAR
FROM ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS
THERE AT THE EVENT, WITNESSED
THE GUNFIRE. RICO ELMORE IS
JOINING US NOW. RICO, IF YOU CAN
HEAR ME, JUST TELL US WHERE YOU
WERE WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THE
SHOTS, >> WAIT. >> THANK YOU. SO MUCH,
>> AND ALSO, WITH ALL DUE
RESPECT, I MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO
THE FAMILY. WHEN THIS ALL
OCCURRED, I KNOW IT'S VERY
ROUGH, SO I WAS POSITIONED
PROBABLY ABOUT MAYBE 20FT AWAY
FROM, THE PRESIDENT AT THE POINT
IN TIME WHEN HE WAS MAKING HIS
ADDRESS, I WAS TO THE RIGHT OF
THE STAGE DUE TO ME BEING A I
WAS A I WAS A SPEAKER AT THE
EVENT, SO I DID MY SPEECH
EARLIER TODAY, DOING A
PREPROGRAM. AND I WAS A FEW FEET
FROM WHERE THIS ALL OCCURRED, WE
HEARD THE SHOTS AND I THOUGHT IT
WAS FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS
FIREWORKS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE WERE ON EDGE AND ANY KIND
OF LOUD BOOM YOU HEAR, YOU'RE
GOING TO THINK GUNSHOTS
IMMEDIATELY. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF WHAT WAS
GOING ON. AND I TURNED AROUND
AND SOMEONE YELLED, MEDIC! AND I
LOOKED, AND THERE WAS NO WAY A
MEDIC COULD HAVE GOT TO THAT
PERSON IN TIME. SO I LEFT MY
SEAT, TOOK MY TIE OFF, I JUMPED
OVER THE BARRIER AND I RAN TO
THE INDIVIDUAL. BUT WHEN I GOT
THERE, IT WAS TOO LATE. THE
PERSON HAD WAS BLEEDING OUT,
THROUGH THEIR HEAD AND LIKE I
SAID, ONCE AGAIN, RESPECTS THE
FAMILY, BECAUSE THIS IS A THIS
IS A VERY TOUGH TIME, BUT THEY
WERE SHOT AND I TRIED TO YOU