Trump heads to convention as authorities investigate motive, security in assassination attempt

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is calling for unity and resilience after an attempt on his life added fresh uncertainty to a tumultuous presidential campaign. His opponent, President Joe Biden, implored Americans to “cool it down” in the final stretch of the closely contested race and to “resolve our differences at the ballot box.” A full day after the attack, the gunman’s motive was still a mystery, and investigators said they believe he acted alone. Biden ordered an independent security review of the shooting, which left one bystander dead and two others critically wounded. The FBI was investigating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism. Trump arrived Sunday evening in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday.

In prime-time address, Biden asks Americans to reject political violence and ‘cool it down’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is urging Americans to reject political violence and recommit themselves to resolving their differences peacefully. In a prime-time address to the nation, Biden said the upcoming presidential election will be a “time of testing” in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Biden says political passions can run high but people “must never descend into violence.” The president said that his party and the Republicans can compete forcefully over different policy visions but do it in a civil fashion.  Biden spoke for six minutes in his third address to the nation since Saturday evening’s attack.

America’s toxic political climate faces calls to ‘tone it down’ after assassination attempt on Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — “Tone it down!” That was the plea from the Republican congressman as he came to grips with the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a political rally in the area where he grew up. But the shocking attack on Trump underscored the toxic climate in America’s political life. While the motive of the shooter is unknown, it comes at a crucial phase — the first presidential election since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Researchers who track online hate said rhetoric of a new civil war has spiked. Civic leaders, pastors and elected officials from President Joe Biden on down appealed to Americans for unity and an end to vitriol.

A timeline of the assassination attempt on former President Trump

Former President Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt as a barrage of gunfire at a Pennsylvania rally set off panic as a bloodied Trump, who said he was shot in the ear, was surrounded by Secret Service and hurried into his vehicle. Authorities say one attendee was killed in the attack Saturday at a farm show in Butler, Pennsylvania, and two others were critically injured. The first shots rang out around 10 minutes after Trump had taken the stage. About 1 minute after the shots rang out, video shows Trump getting to his feet and reaching with his right hand toward his face, which was smeared with blood on his face. He then pumped his fist in the air and appeared to mouth the word “fight” twice to his crowd of supporters.

Former fire chief who died at Trump rally used his body to shield family from gunfire

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The victim who was killed at a Pennsylvania rally for Donald Trump spent his final moments diving in front of his family to protect them from gunfire that rang out Saturday during an assassination attempt against the former president. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed Sunday that Corey Comperatore had died a “hero,” using his body as a shield to protect both his wife and daughter from the bullets. Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township volunteer fire company, called Comperatore “a stand-up guy” and “a true brother of the fire service.” A GoFundMe launched to support Comperatore’s family had already surpassed more than $696,000 in donations as of Sunday.

Authorities hunt for clues, but motive of man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump remains elusive

WASHINGTON (AP) — Investigators are hunting for any clues about what may have drove Thomas Matthew Crooks to try to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The FBI said Sunday that they were investigating it as a potential act of domestic terrorism, but the absence of a clear ideological motive by the man shot dead by Secret Service led conspiracy theories to flourish. The FBI said it believes Crooks, who had bomb-making materials in the car he drove to the rally, acted alone. Crooks graduated from high school in 2022 and his political leanings were not immediately clear. Records show he was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania.

The Secret Service is investigating how a gunman who shot and injured Trump was able to get so close

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot and injure former President Donald Trump at his rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service said the gunman fired multiple shots at the stage from an high position outside of the rally venue on Saturday. Secret Service agents killed the gunman. An Associated Press analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from the scene of the Trump rally, as well as satellite imagery of the site, shows the shooter was able to get astonishingly close to the stage. The roof where the body lay was less than 150 meters from where Trump was speaking.

Hamas says Gaza cease-fire talks haven’t paused and claims military chief survived Israeli strike

MUWASI, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas says Gaza cease-fire talks continue and the group’s military commander is in good health a day after the Israeli military targeted Mohammed Deif with a massive airstrike that local health officials say killed at least 90 people including children. Deif’s condition remains unclear after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday night “there still isn’t absolute certainty” he was killed. Hamas representatives give no evidence to back up their assertion about the health of a chief architect of the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the war. Israel’s military says the strike killed another Hamas commander who was a close associate of Deif.

Spain wins record fourth European Championship title by inflicting another painful loss on England

BERLIN (AP) — Spain has won a record fourth European Championship title after Mikel Oyarzabal’s 86th-minute goal clinched a 2-1 victory as England’s painful decades-long wait for a major trophy goes on. Oyarzabal slid in to poke home Marc Cucurella’s cross just when the game at Berlin’s Olympiastadion seemed destined for extra time after the latest show of resilience by England at the tournament. Substitute Cole Palmer equalized for England in the 73rd minute to cancel out Nico Williams’ opener in the 47th from 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal’s pass.

Treason and espionage cases are rising in Russia since the war in Ukraine began

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Treason cases were once rare in Russia, a handful each year. But they — along with espionage prosecutions — have skyrocketed since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The crackdown is ensnaring Russians and foreigners alike, regardless of their political views. Victims include Kremlin critics, independent journalists and veteran scientists working with countries that Moscow considers friendly. These cases stand out from the growing crackdown on dissent that has reached unprecedented levels. They are investigated almost exclusively by the powerful FSB security agency, with specific charges and evidence not always revealed. The accused are usually held in the notorious Lefortovo Prison until their trials, where they are almost always convicted and given long prison sentences.