AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has been to dozens of political rallies for former President Donald Trump, but an assassination attempt at a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is something Miller will never forget. As one of Trump's top allies in Texas, Miller said he was standing [...]
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has been to dozens of political rallies for former President Donald Trump, but an assassination attempt at a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is something Miller will never forget.
As one of Trump's top allies in Texas, Miller said he was standing about 30 feet away from the former president when he heard popping noises. Soon, U.S. Secret Service agents rushed Trump off the stage and to safety, with some blood on his ear and face.
For Miller, the first shot sounded like a pop of a balloon. On the second shot, he thought he was hearing firecrackers. He then quickly realized it was the sound of gunfire, estimating it was a small pistol.
"Everybody else around me was either on the ground or kneeling or crouching down. I was looking for the gunman," Miller told Nexstar.
The agriculture commissioner said he was standing by the man who was killed by the stray bullet and another woman who was injured and is in critical condition. One other person was also critically wounded, according to the Associated Press.
The suspected shooter was killed and another rally attendee was dead, the AP reports. The FBI is investigating the shooting as an attempted assassination.
Miller, who is currently traveling to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, said he hopes Saturday's events become a flashpoint for a divided nation.
"Hopefully, that this will tone down the rhetoric," he said. "I hope it brings our country together out we have less vitriol between the two parties."
In a social media post Sunday, Trump said “it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.” His aides say he is doing well.
