Rico Elmore was present at a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler County, Pennsylvania when he witnessed what law enforcement is describing as an assassination attempt.
In an interview with Scripps News, Elmore stated that he was near the scene when the shooting took place. He quickly alerted the other bystanders to take cover.
“I was in the bullpen area to the right of the stage while Trump was speaking on the monitor,” Elmore shared in a phone conversation on Saturday evening. “We heard gunshots and were instructed to get down. Being a military member myself, I shouted at everyone to take cover.”
“When they called for a medic, I jumped over the barrier. The medic couldn’t reach the injured person, so I rushed to the man who was shot in the head. I held his head as he passed away,” Elmore recalled.
Elmore mentioned that Trump was on the stage, while the individual who was shot was in the stands to the right of him, a few rows behind where he was seated. He emphasized, “If you look at where the president was standing, I was directly to his right as he addressed the audience.”
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Elmore appeared visibly affected by the incident but assured that he was alright.
“The sound of gunshots is something no one wants to hear,” Elmore expressed.
“Witnessing someone being shot and holding their head as blood and brain matter trickle out, knowing you can’t do anything, is a traumatic experience.”
“We watch these events unfold on TV and in video games, thinking it won’t happen to us. Experiencing such a traumatic event firsthand is hard to process,” Elmore added.
“People were shielding children, helping others stand up, and seeking guidance. I felt it was my role at that moment to provide direction in a calm manner,” Elmore continued.
The shooter was killed, and one rally attendee lost their life, according to Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger. Additionally, two other attendees were reported to be in critical condition by the Secret Service.
Trump confirmed that he was shot in the ear but sustained no serious injuries.
