MILWAUKEE — Former President Donald Trump is safe after an assassination attempt at a rally held Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. It came just days before Trump is scheduled to accept the GOP nomination at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee.

A bullet pierced the upper part of Trump’s right ear. A former fire chief who was attending the rally with his family was killed and others were badly wounded.

The FBI identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old male, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was fatally shot by Secret Service agents at the scene.

The shooting has turned the spotlight to political violence in the U.S. This was the most serious attempt to kill a president or presidential candidate since President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

When the assassination attempt happened, many residents in Milwaukee, and people from around the state, were on the convention grounds to catch a glimpse of the RNC before it commences on Monday, July 15.

Jeanine Sweeney was outside the Fiserv Forum when she first got word Trump had been shot.

Jeanine Sweeney was outside the Fiserv Forum when she first got word Trump had been shot. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

“And my heart kind of stopped. It’s not the United States; it’s not the way it should be. We haven’t seen something like this since Ronald Reagan. It’s horrifying and it’s not the way it should be in this country,” said Sweeney.

Michael Frederick said he had traveled from Brookfield to watch the final RNC setup. That’s when he heard the news.

Michael Frederick said he had traveled from Brookfield to watch the final RNC setup. That’s when he heard the news. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

“I’m not surprised because… There is a lot of tension in the air and things are kind of crazy right now and there’s a lot of extremism,” said Frederick.

Jerome Grzeca is a Milwaukee resident who was downtown checking out the RNC setup with his family. He said drastic change is needed.

Jerome Grzeca is a Milwaukee resident who was downtown checking out the RNC setup with his family. He said drastic change is needed. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

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“There’s just no room for violence in the political system, regardless of disagreement or where we may stand. We can never resort to that kind of thing, and I’m saddened by that,” said Grzeca.

Francisco Navarro said he is in town from Illinois and will be working security during the convention. Navarro said he believes the assassination attempt will lead to tighter convention security.

Francisco Navarro said he is in town from Illinois and will be working security during the convention. Navarro said he believes the assassination attempt will lead to tighter convention security. (Spectrum News 1/Wendy Strong)

“I think security will be heightened. People will be on alert. It’s just going to be different now. People are going to have a lot of worries,” Navarro said.

Sweeney said she agrees that security needs to be top of mind, but said she is confident Milwaukee will host a safe convention.

“I hope Milwaukee shines. I’m not from Milwaukee originally, but it’s my home now and I love it and they’ve done a ton of work and the city looks beautiful and I hope on the world stage this city looks as great as it is and it comes off,” Sweeney said.