Did the Butler, Pennsylvania, Police Department say the gunman who shot Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, was arrested at the scene and has been identified as Mark Violets? No, that's not true: Butler Police Chief Bob O'Neill told Lead Stories that their department made no such confirmation. Additionally, he said, "The Secret Service is issuing all press related material."
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) published on Facebook on July 13, 2024. The post's caption said:
'BREAKING: 🚨🚨🚨
Per the Butler Police Department the Trump shooter has been arrested at the scene and has been identified as Mark Violets, an Antifa member.
Prior to the sh00ting Mark Violets uploaded a video on YouTube claiming "justice is coming' https://ift.tt/5f1ci2K
This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Sun Jul 14 00:47:56 2024 UTC)
In a July 13, 2024, email to Lead Stories, Butler City Police Department Chief Bob O'Neill said no confirmation was made. He said:
This event did not occur in the City of Butler. It was in a Township surrounding our area. The Secret Service is issuing all press related material.
Separately, Butler County District Attorney Richard A. Goldinger confirmed to multiple news sources that the shooter was dead, as well as one person in the audience. He did not identify either person.
Additionally, Trump in a July 13, 2024, post to his Truth Social account said, "Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.
This is what the post looked like on Truth Social at the time of writing:
(Source: Facebook screenshot taken on Sun Jul 14 01:12:20 2024 UTC)
