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Once the shots were fired, Secret Service agents and local law enforcement responded rapidly. The attacker was wounded and fatally shot by police within about a minute. During this chaos, a bystander—a 50-year-old former fire chief—was killed, likely in a headshot, while others sustained critical injuries. Trump himself sustained blood-spattered injuries but was able to stand, raise his fist, and ultimately was evacuated to a safe location.
Despite the severity, Trump appeared on his feet shortly after, a gesture captured widely as a potent symbol of resilience or defiance. Approximately 40 minutes later, the president was taken to a hospital, safe from further threat.
Critical Review of Security Failures
This incident reveals profound vulnerabilities in several layers of security: