Trump Says Bullet 'Pierced' His Right Ear As Shots Fired During Rally, Shooter Dead. Biden Calls It 'Sick'

One person from the audience was killed after bullets were fired during Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania while two others were critically injured, said the US Secret Service.

Former US President Donald Trump was injured as shots were fired during his rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday after which he was rushed off stage. The Republican leader said he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear". The moments captured on camera show Trump ducking as pop sounds were heard followed by Secret Service agents swarming onto the podium. The 78-year-old twitched his face and clutched a hand to his right ear, with blood soon visible on his face. 

The US Secret Service said that the attacker fired multiple rounds towards the stage "from an elevated position outside of the rally venue" and was "neutralised", reported BBC. The shooter killed one person in the audience while two others were critically injured, it added. 

"During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the evening of 13 July at approximately 6:15pm, a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue," said the US Secret Service in a statement. 

It added: "US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured. This incident is currently under investigation. and the Secret Service has notified the FBI."

The former President said he "knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin." "Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening," he posted on his Truth Social account and thanked the Secret Sevice and other law enforcement "for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place".

He also extended condolences to the family of the person killed in the attack. 

The shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination, reported CBS News citing law enforcement sources as saying.

US President Joe Biden condemned the attack saying there is no place for this kind of violence. He said he was briefed by the agencies and has tried to get hold of his predecessor. "He's with his doctors and doing well," Biden said. 

"Look, there's no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick. It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening," added the US President.

Vice President Kamala Harris also condemned the "abhorrent" attack saying "violence such as this has no place in our nation."