McCormick nearly shot on stage, unacceptable violence

PITTSBURGH (100.1 FM/AM 1020 KDKA Radio) – He was about to get up on the stage when a change in plans by President Trump may have saved his life.

Pennsylvanian Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick told Larry Richert and Marty Griffin he was feet away from Mr. Trump at the rally in Butler on Saturday evening. He explained on KDKA Radio how Mr. Trump walked onto stage and started to introduce McCormick.

“Let’s get Dave McCormick up on the stage,” McCormick explained on NewsRadio KDKA, “and then he says ‘no, no, we’ll have him up a little bit later’. Then within a minute or two, I start to hear ‘pop, pop, pop’. But for the grace of God, I would have been up there.”

McCormick explained he could see a little blood coming from President Trump and then looked over his shoulder and realized someone had been shot. As of Saturday night, one confirmed fatality and two others were injured.

He said there were about 15,000 people according to local law enforcement attending the rally for the likely Republican presidential nominee. McCormick said it was a great day in Butler County that changed in a second.

“There are people cheering, ‘USA, God Bless America’, it’s a happy occasion and then in an instant you see this horrific, inexcusable political violence,” McCormick said on KDKA Radio. “It was just a sad day, not just President Trump, but we have innocent bystanders that are coming to participate in the political process that lost their lives. It’s a real disgrace.”

McCormick, a military veteran, praised the reaction by Secret Service with Larry Richert and Marty Griffin. He said in the moment they looked outstanding, jumping up on stage and protecting Mr. Trump. The acted in an instance to calm

He said they have to make sure the United States President and presidential candidates are not vulnerable.

“Obviously there is a break of some kind,” McCormick said.

Asked about this being a critical time in the history of our nation, McCormick was clear.

“Political violence of any kind is unacceptable,” McCormick told KDKA Radio. “This is horrific. It cannot be sanctioned, it crosses the line. We can’t go forward with this kind of… so hopefully cooler minds prevail.”

“This is a moment where all Americans can say, God this is unacceptable, dial back the rhetoric and get on with making America great.”

innocent bystanders that are coming to participate in the political process that

lost their lives. It’s a real disgrace.”