close 
Butler 911 calls reveal chaotic moments after first Trump assassination attempt
Butler County has released 911 calls from the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania.
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account – free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Having trouble? Click here.
More than four months after a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, Butler County officials have released 911 calls from that day.
One redacted call came from the wife of a 74-year-old shooting victim from Moon Township, telling police her husband was shot at the rally, but she did not know what hospital he was transported to. James Copenhaver, a 74-year-old man from Moon Township, was shot and critically wounded at the rally.
“Paramedics serviced him. I called Butler Hospital. He’s not there. They told me to call 911,” the woman can be heard telling a dispatcher.
The dispatcher tells her to stay on the line and not hang up.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: WHISTLEBLOWERS CLAIM THAT THEY WERE ‘WOEFULLY UNPREPARED’ TO PROVIDE SECURITY
James Copenhaver is pictured with his wife. (James Copenhaver)
“I won’t,” she says.
Other 911 calls released by Butler County give more insight into the moment gunman Thomas Crooks fired approximately eight times, nicking Trump in the ear, killing Corey Comperatore and injuring Copenhaver and another man, David Dutch.
TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
“Gunshots. Gunshots at the Trump rally,” one caller can be heard saying. “You better get over here quick.”
WATCH: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT VICTIM’S POV SHOWS SUSPECT ON ROOF
“We’re at the Butler Farm Show. We need assistance now,” says another.
“We’re at the Trump assembly, and there’s a guy shooting,” another caller can be heard telling dispatchers.
VIDEO FROM TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT VICTIM’S POV SHOWS FIGURE MOVING ON ROOF MOMENTS BEFORE GUNFIRE
One woman called 911 to check in on her mother, who had been at the rally. She notified dispatchers that there had been a shooting, and dispatchers responded that police were on the way.
Former President Donald Trump was injured during an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“What am I supposed to do?” she asks.
Another caller told dispatch that a paramedic was needed in the “green section” of the rally after “somebody passed out.”
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT VICTIMS’ ATTORNEY RESPONDS TO SECRET SERVICE AGENTS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE
The calls revealed a chaotic scene after shots rang out at the rally, with attendees unaware whether the shooter was an active threat to those attending the event.
Bodycam video from local law enforcement shows confusion among agencies in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (US Secret Service)
Further investigation revealed that Crooks had accessed the roof of a nearby building by climbing HVAC equipment and piping on the side of the building, which was outside the official perimeters of the rally but less than 200 yards from where Trump was speaking on stage.
TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT VICTIMS WITH LIFE-ALTERING INJURIES SEEK ACCOUNTABILITY: ‘IT WILL COME TO LIGHT’
About an hour before shots were fired, a Beaver County sniper took a photo of a suspicious male near the AGR building using a range finder pointing toward the stage. That suspicious male was later identified as Crooks.
The sniper reported that information to the Pennsylvania State Police. The FBI previously said this sighting occurred around 5:10 p.m. on July 13, one hour and one minute before Crooks fired his first bullet at 6:11.
Thomas Crooks seen at the Trump rally on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Sen. Ron Johnson)
A local officer from Butler County identified where the shots were coming from, located the shooter and fired one round at Crooks with his rifle, “which caused the shooter to recoil and briefly fall out of sight,” Adams Township Police Department Sgt. Edward Lenz testified in September.
A Secret Service counter sniper then fired the fatal shot that neutralized Crooks on the roof of the AGR building, where he was perched with a direct line of sight to Trump.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
On the day of the rally, Crooks parked his vehicle and flew a drone between approximately 3:50 p.m. and 4 p.m. about 200 yards from where the former president would be speaking.
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified during a July 17 congressional hearing that Crooks had been at the rally site for about 70 minutes the morning of the assassination attempt.
Investigators located eight casings on the roof where Crooks fired from.
Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Email tips to [email protected] or on Twitter at @audpants.