Former President Donald Trump was struck on the ear by a bullet from a lone gunman on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Secret Service shielded him before escorting him off stage.
A Pennsylvania woman attended the rally held by former President Trump on Saturday with her husband and, initially, was uncertain if the pops she heard were directly related to a gun, as she assumed, because of the fun-loving atmosphere, that someone set off fireworks. 'It was truly a lovely day and as we were sitting there, it really sounded like firecrackers,' Chris Konopka, 56, of McMurray, Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital over the phone.
Konopka, a first-time rally attendee, and her husband, small business owners near Bethel Park where the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was from, were seated about 20 feet behind Trump and the stage. She said it wasn’t until the couple got home that they understood the gravity of the situation as iPhone service at Butler Farm Show Grounds was limited and only text messages from her mom were coming through. Trump was struck by a bullet on his ear.
Konopka said that, though she’d never been to a rally before, she was particularly alert as to the lack of protection as she walked into the outdoor venue. She described the security scene, including one metal detector, as 'lax.' 'I remember my husband saying, ‘You know, I don’t know about this,’' she said. 'In my humble opinion, they made that very, very easy for that 20-year-old.
It probably should have hit somebody two rows above me because a bullet doesn’t stop and there was nothing behind that podium to stop it besides more people,' she said. 'Where is it?' She doesn’t believe that Crooks had enough access to weaponry and intelligence to act alone and Konopka says Americans aren’t asking enough questions.
Konopka said she extends her condolences to the family of the man who lost his life, and though disheartened by the loss, she said she was especially taken aback by the heroism of one WWII veteran in attendance. 'Everyone was ducking,' she said. 'He stood straight up and went straight to that podium without even thinking about it.' She added that it was a 'pretty incredible' sight and gave her new hope for the future.
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