Doug Mills, a photographer for the New York Times, seemed to have captured the moment a bullet narrowly missed former President Donald Trump’s head during a shooting at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.
Images shared on X, previously known as Twitter, depicted Mills capturing the trajectory of a bullet in the air while Trump was addressing a large crowd of supporters shortly after 6:00 p.m. EDT. The photos, taken from an upward angle toward Trump’s podium, show the president reacting by grabbing his right ear as the bullet passed by. In a third photo, Trump is shown with his hand extended, and what appears to be blood is visible on his right hand.
#BREAKING: NYT PHOTOS SHOWS BULLET, BLOOD ON TRUMP’S HAND IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRABBING HIS EAR pic.twitter.com/wXeQ3N9k01
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 14, 2024
New York Times photo shows one of the bullets flying just behind Trump's head pic.twitter.com/aMn29qLVoN
— BNO News (@BNONews) July 14, 2024
Shortly after Trump began his speech at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally, chaos erupted among the attendees as loud gunshots rang out. A video circulating online captured Trump’s response, as Secret Service agents swiftly took to the stage to protect the former president.
In the aftermath of the incident, Trump was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed to be safe. According to a source close to Daily Caller’s Chief National Correspondent Henry Rodgers, Trump sustained only a minor ear injury, with no broken bones and no need for surgery.
Although details remain scarce, law enforcement officials informed CBS News that the suspect had used an AR-style rifle from a distance of 200-300 feet. The shooter, whose identity has not been verified, was reportedly situated on an elevated platform atop a shed beyond the Secret Service’s security perimeter. Authorities have confirmed the death of the shooter, as well as a civilian who lost their life during the attack, as reported by The Associated Press.