Trump Shooting: New Details From FBI Investigation Into Assassination Attempt

A Pittsburgh man who witnessed the attempted assassination of former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, last week told Fox News Digital how surprised he was to see the crowd burst into cheers after the Republican candidate shouted “Fight!” and pumped his fist in the air moments after he was shot.

Bob Crankovic said he was sitting right behind Trump, just off his right shoulder, when the meeting began.

Minutes into the rally, Thomas Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, attempted to assassinate Trump but shot him in the ear after the former president turned around at the last minute to explain a graphic about border policy.

Crankovic, who has been active in local Republican circles since 2016, said this was about his fourth Trump rally and that Saturday’s gathering started like the others: attendees wore red hats and American flag-like clothing.

But after shots were fired, Crankovic saw Trump fall and be choked by Secret Service agents. What happened next was just as shocking, he said.

“Unfortunately, as soon as the shots started going off, I immediately dove into cover,” he said. “By the time I happened to look at the president, around the second or third shot, he was already covered,” he said.

“So it was hard to watch. But, I mean, as soon as the president stood up, everyone was screaming their heads off in support of the president.”

Fox News’ Charles Creitz contributed to this report.