"I thought it was a joke"

Turbulent scenes unfolded after the shooting during Trump's campaign meeting, according to eyewitnesses. It was just suddenly complete chaos, says a witness.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: July 14 2024

"I thought it was a joke"
Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP/TT

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Turbulent scenes unfolded after the shooting during Trump's campaign rally, according to eyewitnesses.

It was suddenly just chaos, says a witness.

Trump supporter Blake Marnell tells The Guardian that he was sitting in the front row with some friends, listening to Donald Trump's speech, when he suddenly heard the sound of shots, but didn't understand what it was.

I hoped it was a joke, that it was a bad joke, says Marnell to the newspaper.

He recounts that Trump was almost "tackled" to the ground by Secret Service and that he then heard the bodyguards discussing how to move Trump and made a countdown before following the presidential candidate down from the stage.

Republican politician Dave McCormick also testifies to CNN about how he was sitting in the front row and heard a series of shots, around seven or eight.

It was suddenly just chaos. Secret Service immediately covered (ex-)President Trump, jumped on top of him, and the crowd immediately ducked to the ground, he says to CNN.

McCormick recounts that he saw over his shoulder that a person in the audience had been hit by the shots. He also saw how people around the injured person tried to give first aid because it took several minutes for medical personnel to make their way through the dense crowd.

Another Republican politician, Dan Mauser, testifies to CNN about the chaotic atmosphere after the shots.

"Many people were panicked, says Meuser, who recounts that many calmed down and sat down again when Trump stood up at the podium and raised one fist.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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