We are awaiting more news on the attempt to kill former President Donald Trump. He was speaking in Butler, Pennsylvania at a campaign rally when shots rang out.

One of the first shots hit Trump in or around his left ear. There was blood strewn across his face. Immediately after he was hit, he ducked down, which probably saved his life.

News reports so far (which may or may not be accurate) say there were two shooters. One of them reportedly is deceased and the other is in critical condition. The news reports say the US Secret Service liquidated them.

We know nothing about the shooters, if there were indeed two. This is still not certain. But from the look and feel of the attack it appears to be a highly professional attempted assassination. Firing at the head is a mark of a professional shooter.

One is reminded of the horrific murder of President John F Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Despite a massive coverup, Kennedy was shot in the head, most likely from the Grassy Knoll or near the roadway where his car passed by.

The shot was to the front of the head as video of the attack clearly shows. Reports say that the Trump shooter or shooters operated from a distance, meaning they probably had long-range rifles with scopes.

I watched videos of the shooting and you can clearly hear the gunfire, but the sound is far from the reviewing stand where Trump stood. We don’t have any real information on the security at the rally or how well the perimeter was protected (if at all).

All the recent reports say Trump is likely to win the election. Is this connected with the attempt to kill him? I would think so.

The Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation can help the American people by telling everything they know and all that they learn, with complete transparency. I am not so confident this will happen.

Reportedly one of the two alleged shooters is alive but in critical condition. It remains to be seen if this is true. Others say that a person in the crowd was killed, possibly a second victim.

An observation: there was no ambulance or medics on the scene as Trump was taken away in an armored vehicle. Stay tuned and be skeptical.

Stephen Bryen is senior correspondent at Asia Times. He served as staff director of the Near East Subcommittee of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as a deputy undersecretary of defense for policy. 

This article was first published on his Weapons and Strategy Substack and is republished with permission.