Behind the lens: photographer recounts moment shots fired at Trump rally

A picture that is filled with emotions, drama and blood was captured on July 13 when a failed assassination attack took place on former US President Donald Trump. Republican presidential candidate was whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.

Trump was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when bangs started ringing out. Trump could be seen reaching with his right hand toward his neck. There appeared to be blood on his face.

The photograph was taken by chief Washington photographer for the Associated Press, Evan Vucci, who has been covering Trump since his candidacy eight years ago. In 2020, Vucci even won a Pulitzer for a photograph of protests after George Floyd's death.

Vucci recounted the moment when gunshots were fired at Trump rally, he said, "So today I was photographing former President Trump, at a campaign rally here in Butler, Pennsylvania. I was right in front of the stage, directly in front of stage. It was a normal rally. You know, I've done it hundreds of times. And, over my left shoulder, I heard several, several pops, and I knew immediately it was gunfire."

"So I looked at the stage, and I saw the Secret Service agents rushing to President Trump. From that moment, I ran to the stage and I started photographing the agents on top of him. And then off to my right I saw the Secret Service counter assault team arrive. And then I ran to the other side of the stage, and they picked President Trump up", he further said.

"And then as he's walking down the ramp, he started fist pumping to the crowd and waving. And I did notice he had blood coming down his face, as you can see in the photos. The agents took him down the ramp, and they put him into an SUV. And again, as he was getting into the SUV, he also started pumping his fist again."

"So I'm not sure how long it was from beginning to end, but, you know, in my mind, it was it all happened really fast."

Vucci talked about the moment he heard the gunshots, "At the moment I heard the shots being fired I knew that this was a moment in American history that had to be documented. I mean, it's our job as journalists to do this work."

((With inputs from AP))

Also watch: Who was Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump shooter?