On July 13, US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated on Saturday that the Department of Justice is working with law enforcement agencies and mobilizing all available resources to investigate the shooting incident at a rally held by former President Trump.
Garland issued a statement later on Saturday, saying, “I have been briefed on the shooting incident at the former President Trump’s rally and have briefed the President. The FBI, ATF, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Department of Justice National Security Division are currently collaborating on the ground in Butler, Pennsylvania, with the Secret Service and state and local law enforcement partners.”
“My heart goes out to the former President, the injured, and the families of the audience members who lost their lives in this horrific attack,” he wrote.
“We will not tolerate any form of violence, as such violence is an attack on our democracy,” Garland continued, “The Department of Justice will utilize all available resources for the investigation.”
Garland’s statement was issued on the night of the attempted assassination of Trump. Around 6:15 PM on Saturday, Trump, who was speaking at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was shot in the upper right ear, but did not sustain any other major injuries. However, one person in the audience was fatally shot, and two others were seriously injured, sparking global attention.
According to preliminary investigation results by US law enforcement, the suspect has been identified as a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania, and further investigation is ongoing.
The shooting incident has drawn unanimous condemnation from Trump’s political allies and opponents. Approximately two hours after the incident, President Biden made a brief television address emphasizing “such violence has no place in America” and vowed that “we cannot condone such actions.”
Later that night, Biden called Trump.
Vice President Harris and former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama also released statements condemning political violence and thanking law enforcement for their swift actions.
Trump’s family and allies have also issued statements expressing their concern and support for Trump, while billionaire Elon Musk quickly endorsed Trump after the attack, stating his full support for the former president.