Two Secret Service sniper teams were observed on rooftops behind former President Donald Trump shortly before gunfire erupted at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. They were seen preparing to face the direction of the gunman who later shot at Trump, causing a bullet to graze his ear. The suspected gunman positioned himself on a nearby roof about 450 feet away from Trump's stage, with a clear line of sight. A minute and thirty-two seconds before the shots, the snipers moved into place on the south and north roofs though it's unclear if they were repositioning or setting up initially. Moments before the attack, spectators reported seeing someone with a gun. As shots rang out, Secret Service agents swiftly moved Trump offstage. The incident resulted in one spectator's death and critical injuries to two others. The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was subsequently neutralized. It is an historical event which will definitely have an impact on the upcoming US elections.
Vocabulary:
• Graze (verb): to touch or scrape lightly in passing, especially causing slight injury or damage.
• Gunfire (noun): the sound of gunshots.
• Stage (noun): a raised platform where performers or speakers stand.
• Bullet (noun): a small metal projectile fired from a gun.
• Rush (verb): to move quickly and with urgency.
• Bleed (verb): to lose blood.
• Event (noun): a planned public or social occasion.
• Roof (noun): the top covering of a building.
Source: The Wall Street Journal YouTube channel.