During an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, US presidential candidate Donald Trump raised his fist in defiance, blood pouring down his face, following an assassination attempt.

"I knew something was wrong immediately. I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and felt the bullet rip through my skin. There was a lot of bleeding," Trump later posted on his social media site.

Incident and Immediate Aftermath

The suspected attacker was promptly shot and killed by Secret Service agents. One spectator died, and two others were wounded in the incident. Trump was rushed to a local hospital with a bullet wound to his right ear before being flown to New Jersey.

Father Jason Charron, a Ukrainian Catholic priest who gave a benediction during Trump's rally, had urged the crowd to pray for Trump moments before the former president was shot and wounded.

Fr. Jason Charron, Pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, shared, “Yes, it was the first time I had been to a Trump rally. First time they had asked me to lead it in prayer. I remember a jubilant atmosphere. A large gathering of people. As soon as they called for the moment of prayer, I came up to the podium. People were very respectful. My prayer was directed to God Our Father. That he would give us His Holy Spirit, that we may perceive in the present crisis of our time in our world and in our nation, that we might perceive through this crisis the need to make right our relationships with one another, with our families, but ultimately, our relationship with God.”

Vatican's Official Statement

In a statement issued late Sunday morning, the Holy See expressed “concern about last night's episode of violence, which wounds people and democracy, causing suffering and death.” The statement added that the Holy See is “united in prayer with the US bishops for America, for the victims, and for peace in the country, hoping that the motives of the violent may never prevail."

Bishop Zubik's Call for Peace and Healing

Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh, whose diocese includes Butler, expressed deep shock at the shooting, which occurred “right across the street from one of our churches.” He invited prayers “for the health and safety of all, for healing and peace, and for an end to this climate of violence in our world.”

Adapted by Jacob Stein

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