CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) said on Monday America has to “get our act together” following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
“We’ve got to stop the violence, do we not? That’s all there is to it. We’ve got to stop the hate and the tolerance of allowing and accepting the violence,” Gov. Justice said during his press conference on Monday.
The West Virginia governor and U.S. Senate candidate said later in the press conference, “We came this close to losing the next President of the United States of America; a President we that we had just a few years back. And with all being said — on top of all of that — we came within that close of me losing a really dear friend.”
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said a bullet hit the top part of his right ear during a campaign rally stop in Butler, Pennsylvania . He has since described the attempted assassination as a “ very surreal experience .”
Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee, was killed in the attack, according to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) via Nexstar . Comperatore was a former fire chief from the area.
“In the bleachers right ahead of me, a man got a gunshot wound and was killed instantaneously,” rally attendee Joseph Meyn told NewsNation . “It was a direct hit. His body immediately fell into the bleachers.”
At least two others were injured on Saturday: David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. Both were listed in stable condition as of Sunday.
The FBI has identified the gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. His motive remains unclear as of Monday morning. The FBI said they are investigating the incident as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
President Biden on Sunday said in a prime-time address from the Oval Office that, “There is no place in America for this kind of violence — for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception.”
Several prominent West Virginia politicians have released statements following Saturday’s incident.
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) said on Sunday in part, “Each day, we see increasingly violent language being used to demonize and villainize the other side. No room has been left for discussion or debate. Love of country has been replaced with hate for anyone who professes to support the other party.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said in a statement, “Violence of any kind has absolutely no place in our country and I condemn it entirely. Like many Americans, I have questions around this attack and it is important we understand how and why this terrible act of violence occurred.”
Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) said, “While I am thankful for the secret service who acted quickly to take down the shooter, I’m hopeful that we will learn answers to the many questions surrounding the attack to prevent anything like it from happening again. God bless President Trump and God bless America.”
Democratic Kanawha County Del. Hollis Lewis told Nexstar’s WOWK on Monday, “I think what we are experiencing is two sides that have gotten way too far apart, and we need to come back to the middle so that way we can have conversations, even if we don’t agree with one another.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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