What I saw: TribLive photographer describes shooting scene at Trump rally

I began my day at the Donald Trump rally in Butler County like most members of the credentialed media — passing security checkpoints and navigating through a crowd of thousands with a backpack and camera gear dangling from my shoulders.

It took longer than I thought to reach the media pen, where most national and international journalists were covering the rally from a riser raised above the crowds.

I was standing below the riser when the former president began his speech about 6 p.m. Saturday. Not having an elevated position, I was struggling to get a good photo as he spoke, dodging supporters’ arms and cellphones that were blocking any angles. For a moment, I turned my camera to photograph the crowds, and that’s when everyone heard that unmistakable sound — the sound of gunshots cracking through the air.

To witness an event like this is beyond words. Here is my account.

Related:

• Buffalo Township man killed at Trump rally remembered as good neighbor, dedicated public servant
• Who is Thomas Crooks, the alleged gunman in the Trump shooting?
• Before shots rang out, Trump promised help for Russian-held Marc Fogel
• Headline
• Trump survives assassination attempt in Butler; 2 dead, including suspected shooter from Bethel Park
• Officials react to the violence at the Trump rally in Butler County
• Photo gallery: Trump rally in Butler

“Pop, pop, pop, pop” rang out in rapid succession. That’s when everyone hit the deck, minus a few older people and folks who were unsure what was happening.

At an event like this when gunshots go off, it’s possible anyone could be a target. The president, the crowd of supporters, the media. It was hard to determine where the shots were coming from.

It was then that I saw Trump fall behind the podium. My immediate reaction was to get the camera pointed back at the stage. I was using a 400 mm lens, which is heavy and cumbersome. As I saw the scene come into focus through the camera viewfinder, that’s when I witnessed the Secret Service agents pile on top of Trump and other law enforcement with rifles drawn. Security had fired some sort of riot control agent into the crowd.

The security detail raised him up, and Trump made a fist gesture toward the crowd before being taken off stage. With most of the supporters still ducking, I now had a clearer angle. I could see through the viewfinder he had been shot.

I ran as fast as I could to send pictures and yelled at my co-worker, reporter Ryan Deto, that the candidate had just been shot.

There isn’t a lot of time to process the nature of what just happened. As a photojournalist, my instincts in situations like this are to do my job as best as possible.

Cellphone signals cut out immediately thereafter, with many phones displaying SOS signals. I couldn’t transmit photos to our newsroom right away, and law enforcement were forcibly evacuating the crowds, including media.

It was all incredibly surreal, a moment that’s difficult to shake.