Sopuruchi Onwuka, with agency reports

A 20-year-old man, Bethel Park, shot at former American president and hot contender in the imminent US election, Donald Trump, during a political rally in Pennsylvania.

The republican presidential candidate and former US prsident was promptly surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents immediately the shot rang put and Trump clutched his right ear.

Trump survived the gunfire which killed a rally attendee and injured another, and a combined team of security operatives hunted down and killed the shooter.

A video footage circulating early Sunday morning showed the moment Trump clutched his right ear and fell to ground as security operatives including the FBI in black suits swarmed in to form a human cover around him.

 ‘Shooter is down and we can now move,’ police dispatcher declared before security operatives rushed the former president out of the event podium.

It became clear that Donald Trump survived the assassination attempt which occurred Saturday night at his campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania after he was helped to his feet and he spoke to the crowd once more before being led out.

His campaign released a statement shortly afterwards saying he was “fine.”

 The suspected shooter and a rally attendee were killed in the fire exchange. Two other attendees were also critically injured, according to the Secret Service.

The shooter was later identified as 20 year old Thomas Matthew Crooks, but said they have yet to establish a motive for the shooting. The FBI and Pennsylvania state law enforcement officials said they are working together on an active investigation.

The video showed blood streaming from his right ear immediately afterwards — and he was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Trump declared on the On Truth Social that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I 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 realized then what was happening.”

By Saturday night, Trump had left the Butler, Pa., area, according to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. He still plans to attend the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday, according to a statement released after the shooting.

Trump was shot at approximately 6:15 p.m., shortly after the former president took the stage.

Trump was visibly bleeding from the area around his right ear but raised his fist defiantly to the crowd.

In a news conference late Saturday night, Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek labeled the attack an “assassination attempt.”

The Secret Service and Pennsylvania state authorities clarified that all the victims at the shooting at the rally were men, including the alleged assassin who was also shot.

“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania. This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

While the investigation is still ongoing, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said there is “no reason to believe that there is any other existing threat out there.” But investigators said late Saturday that they will continue to try and determine whether the suspect acted alone.

FBI and Pennsylvania officials will continue their investigation jointly, with the FBI leading up the inquiry and local authorities handling the homicide and injuries to the rally attendees.

Meanwhile, the Republican National Convention begins Monday in Milwaukee where Trump is expected to be nominated as the party’s presidential nominee for a third time. Trump said that he would still attend the convention.