How the deadly Trump rally shooting unfolded in Pennsylvania

Here’s a timeline of how the suspected assassination attempt on the former president unfolded.

Doors to the rally site, the Butler Farm Show, had opened earlier at 1 p.m. with thousands of attendees trickling in throughout the afternoon, many clad in red and white Trump regalia. Located in the heart of Butler County — which Trump carried by more than 30 percent in 2020 — the rural fairgrounds has served as a community gathering place and hub for local agriculture since the 1940s.

Trump was scheduled to begin speaking at 5 p.m. but there was no sign of him. Supporters mingled on the treeless grounds in 90 degree heat.

Trump arrives, an hour late, and takes the stage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” He spends a couple minutes glad-handing and amping up the crowd. He sports a white shirt, navy blue suit jacket and no tie, and wears a red MAGA hat low on his brow to keep the bright sun out of his eyes.

Trump begins his speech by marveling at the crowd size. “I wish the fake news back there would show it,” he says, “because nobody would believe it.” Then he launches into a monologue about the country “going to hell.”

After a few minutes going on and off script, Trump pivots to his right and starts describing a chart showing immigration statistics.

The first shot is fired. Trump is gripping the lectern and looking to his right. He stops speaking midsentence and grabs his right ear.

A second shot sounds. Then a third. Trump ducks behind the lectern.

“Get down! Get down! Get down! Get down!” a male Secret Service agent yells. Another of volley of shots comes. Crowd members scream and crouch. Three agents dive on top of Trump.

One attendee is killed and two others are critically injured in the gunfire.

“Shooter is down,” an agent on the stage says.

The Butler County district attorney told The Washington Post that the shooter fired from the roof of an office building next to the grounds. The building belongs to American Glass Research, which describes itself as “a full service independent, research and testing laboratory” for the glass container industry.

A video filmed by a bystander and verified by The Post shows the body of a man lying on the roof of a building a little more than 400 feet from where former president Trump was speaking.

Secret Service agents hoist Trump up and form a tight circle around him. Trump’s hair is ruffled and he has lost his hat and shoes.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Trump says. Streaks of blood can be seen on his face and right ear.

He steadies himself, then throws up a fist. “Fight! Fight!” he shouts. The crowd roars around him.

Agents escort Trump down the stairs from the stage. He continues fist-pumping as the agents shuffle him into a black SUV, which then drives away from the grounds.

Trump provides his first account of the incident in a Truth Social post, saying a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear.

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through my skin,” he says. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”

He thanks the Secret Service and other law enforcement and offers condolences to the families of the other victims.

“It is incredible,” Trump writes, “that such an act can take place in our Country.”