Timeline of Trump rally shooting and investigation into attempted assassination

An apparent lone gunman opened fire at a crowded rally in Western Pennsylvania Saturday night in what the FBI said is being investigated as an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

The shooting broke out just minutes before 6:15 p.m. in the city of Butler, a city about 35 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Trump was rushed off stage by U.S. Secret Service Saturday after at least six shots rang out, rattling the crowd and injuring the president during a rally in Western Pennsylvania.

The gunman was killed by Secret Service agents, officials said. One spectator was killed and two others were "critically injured," the Secret Service said.

Here's a timeline of the events starting from the time the rally kicked off:

Where was Trump rally? PA appearance was site of shooting Saturday

Timeline of Trump shooting

6:03 p.m. ET ? Trump took the stage Lee Greenwood's “God Bless the USA,” and waved to the crowd.

6:05 p.m. ?The song concluded and Trump began speaking.

6:11 p.m. ? As Trump spoke to the audience, the suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage and Trump grabbed his ear, then dropped the ground and someone could be heard saying, "shots shots shots."

6:12 p.m. ? Secret Service agents jump on top of Trump and escort him off stage into a vehicle. He gives a thumbs up

6:14 p.m. - Trump's motorcade leaves the fairgrounds surrounded by law enforcement vehicles.

6:42 p.m. ?The Secret Service issued a statement confirming “an incident” took place at the rally and that Trump “is safe.” Not long after, the Trump campaign issued a statement of its own saying Trump “is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility."

7:49 p.m. - Secret Service Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi releases a statement saying agents neutralized the shooter and that he was dead. The statement also said one person was killed and two spectators were seriously injured.

8:13 p.m. ? During a short televised briefing, Biden said he was trying to call Trump to speak with him as soon as possible.

"There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It's sick," the president said, condemning the shooting. “The bottom line is, the Trump rally was a rally that should have been able to be conducted peacefully and without any problem. But the idea – the idea – that there’s political violence, or violence in America like this, is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate."

8:42 p.m. ? Trump posted on Truth Social again confirming he was shot:

“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead,” the ex-president said. “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

9:33 p.m. ? The FBI Pittsburgh said it had assumed the role of the lead federal law enforcement agency in the investigation of the shooting.

11:52 p.m. ? During a news conference Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh FBI office, called the shooting an attempted assassination on the former president. He also said investigators were working to determine a motive in the shooting.

"Our hearts go out to the victims to the heinous actions that took place today," Rojek said, calling the fairgrounds an active crime scene. "At this time we are not prepared to share who the shooter is."

Trump's plane landed in Newark, New Jersey shortly after 12 a.m. for his returns to Trump National Golf Club in Bedmnister.

Anyone who was on scene who saw anything is asked to contact the FBI.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timeline of Trump rally shooting in Butler, PA, assassination probe