July 15th 2024.
Two eyewitnesses, Mike and Amber DiFrischia, were present at a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday. Little did they know that they would end up capturing footage of a gunman firing shots at Trump himself.
In an interview with CNN's Erin Burnett on OutFront, the DiFrischias shared their experience and how they tried to warn authorities of the shooter's position. They first noticed something was wrong when they saw people running in the crowd and saw a man on the roof of a nearby building.
Mike DiFrischia recalled, "Shortly after that, a guy behind me said that he had seen him. He had a gun." Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Mike moved a few feet to get a better view and started recording.
Amber DiFrischia also sprang into action, running towards law enforcement to inform them of the shooter's location. However, due to their proximity to the building, the officers couldn't see the shooter on the roof. The chaos and urgency of the moment made it difficult for the DiFrischias to convey the information clearly.
They were asked by law enforcement, "Where's he at?" and they pointed towards the shooter's location. But before anything could be done, the situation escalated quickly.
Amber described how people started running and then they heard gunshots. "It was just chaotic. It was so fast. First thing is, find coverage. And it was just the scariest thing, you know, there's not a lot of places you can hide there," she said. They found shelter behind two trees and prayed they wouldn't be hit by the bullets.
Mike also witnessed an officer attempting to climb the building to reach the shooter but not making it to the top. He explained, "I don't know if the guy startled him, or what exactly happened." Although they couldn't identify the officer, it has been reported that a local officer saw the gunman and was lifted by another officer to reach the rooftop.
The gunman then turned around and pointed his gun at the officer. In a split second decision, the officer let go of the ledge to save his own life. This gave the gunman the opportunity to start firing from the rooftop.
Meanwhile, Trump, who later revealed he was shot in the ear, was rushed offstage with blood on his face. As details of the incident emerged, questions were raised about the security measures in place and how the sniper was able to access the rooftop.
According to sources, the shooting came from the "three o'clock" position of Trump's podium and shots were fired from his right side. The Secret Service counter-assault snipers acted swiftly and shot the suspect, who was later found dead on top of the building.
Mike DiFrischia's recording also captured the gunman's lifeless body on the rooftop. He recalled how he initially thought the shooter was facing the crowd and had warned those around him to take cover. "When I first saw him looking our way, I thought that he was actually, you know, maybe gonna start shooting this way. I did not realize he had already been shot," he said.
The incident has raised concerns and sparked investigations into how the shooter was able to obtain rooftop access near the former president's location during an outdoor rally. The speedy response of the Secret Service has been praised, but questions still remain about the security measures in place.
In the midst of all this chaos and confusion, the DiFrischias have a message for the public: Stay informed with reliable sources. They also shared that they have been receiving support from their community and are grateful for the outpouring of love and concern.
In the end, this terrifying experience has left them shaken but also strengthened their faith in the human spirit. As Mike said, "It's just scary to think about, but it's also amazing to see how people come together when something like this happens."
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
