On July 13th, US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the Department of Justice is actively collaborating with law enforcement agencies and utilizing all available resources to investigate the shooting incident that occurred at a rally for former President Trump.
Garland’s statement, issued later on Saturday, mentioned that he has been briefed on the shooting incident at the Trump rally and has briefed the President as well. The FBI, ATF, Pennsylvania Western District US Attorney’s office, DOJ National Security Division, and Secret Service are all working together with state and local law enforcement partners on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“My thoughts are with the former President, the injured individuals, and the families of the victims of this terrible attack,” Garland expressed in his statement.
“We will not tolerate any form of violence, as such violence is an attack on our democracy,” Garland continued, emphasizing the Department of Justice’s commitment to conducting a thorough investigation.
Garland’s statement was issued on the same night as the attempted assassination of Trump. Around 6:15 pm on Saturday, Trump was shot at during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A bullet pierced his upper right ear, causing minor injury. However, one person in the audience was fatally shot, and two others were seriously injured, drawing global attention to the event.
According to preliminary investigations by US law enforcement, the suspect is identified as a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, with further inquiries currently underway.
The shooting incident prompted both political allies and opponents of Trump to condemn the violence. President Biden delivered a brief television address approximately two hours after the incident, declaring that “such violence has no place in America” and vowing that “we will not tolerate such behavior.”
Later that night, Biden had a phone call with Trump.
Vice President Harris, along with former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, also issued statements condemning political violence and commending the swift action of law enforcement.
Trump’s family and allies issued statements expressing their concern and support for him, while billionaire Elon Musk swiftly endorsed Trump, declaring full support for the former president following the attack.