Gunshots, panic and then fury - BBC correspondent's account of Trump shooting

From Panic To Fury: My Experience At Trump Rally

Check out: The mayhem that occurred at the Trump rally shooting

The main reporter for North America in Butler, Pennsylvania

Every now and then, noises can trick us. The loud noise of a car can startle you; the sudden burst of a firework can make you nervous. But when we heard the sound of gunshots at the Butler Farm showgrounds around 6pm last Saturday, we instantly recognized them for what they were - gunshots, and there were many of them.

As Donald Trump was speaking, gunshots suddenly disrupted his sentence. Reacting quickly, he clutched his ear before falling to the ground, surrounded by Secret Service agents.

We were unaware at the moment, but the shooter was around 150 meters from us, laying down on top of a shed. He fired at least six shots with an AR-15 rifle at the ex-president and scared onlookers.

I was getting ready to go live on the radio, with my colleagues from the BBC World Service waiting on the other end of the phone. But instead of staying inside, all three of us - me, producer Iona Hampson, and cameraman Sam Beattie - decided to go out and seek shelter in our car. It was the only protection we had at that moment.

We were completely unaware of the source of the gunfire, the number of shooters involved, and the duration of the shooting. To be honest, it was extremely frightening.

While we were on the floor, Sam started recording with his camera and I attempted to share my initial thoughts on the situation. At that point, all we knew was that about six minutes into Donald Trump's speech, the shooting started.

Update: BBC reporter seeks shelter during gunfire incident at Trump campaign event

While I was listening, I heard screams coming from the audience, but I couldn't hear the ex-president speaking anymore. Was he injured, was he deceased? All of these thoughts raced through my mind.

After the shooting ended, Iona helped me stand up and we went on live TV while surprised audience members were leaving the venue. We experienced a wide range of emotions, as Iona convinced scared onlookers to come speak with me on camera.

A lot of people were scared, confused, and a few were really mad.

In the blog, a person named Greg reported that he observed the shooter sneaking onto the shed's roof just before the incident started. He tried desperately to alert the police and Secret Service about the gunman's whereabouts.

Another person - and I can see why - was very angry that we were going live on air; he stood in front of me and Sam shouting at me to stop. I placed my hand gently on his arm and tried to explain to him that it was crucial for the listeners to be informed about what was currently going on; I emphasized that the public needed to be aware.

Finally, after I begged him, he gave in – still upset and still angry, understandably, about what he had just gone through.

Look: A person told BBC that they saw a shooter on the top of the building.

Some people showed their frustration through political actions.

A man came up to me and bluntly exclaimed, "They fired the first shot. This is a damn war."

Another person shouted "civil war" as he walked past me.

Shortly after, a large digital billboard appeared on a truck, with Donald Trump's face surrounded by a target. The message on the billboard accused Democrats of trying to assassinate President Trump.

I felt a chill run down my back, and the terrifying reality of what could happen began to hit me.

However, in the midst of the fear and frustration, there was deep sadness. Individuals who were dedicated followers of Trump, devoted to owning guns, openly expressed their concerns to me about the direction America was heading. It was as though they couldn't identify the country they resided in anymore - as if everything had suddenly become unfamiliar and alien.

Devin, a farmer from the area, attended the political rally with his son, Kolbie. This was their inaugural experience at a political event, as Kolbie, at 14 years old, was not yet eligible to vote.

Yet Kolbie's initial exposure to the true nature of democracy came when he witnessed two injured individuals being placed on stretchers and taken away in ambulances. It's difficult to imagine that the sight of muzzle flashes from the Secret Service snipers, who were responsible for stopping the shooter, won't leave a lasting impact on him for the rest of his days.

Video footage captures the suspect of the shooting at a Trump rally standing on the top of a building

In my ten years as a reporter in the US, I have reported on at least six different shootings. However, I have never been present when the actual shooting occurred until now.

I never want to go through that again. Even in a place where many people are passionate about guns, the residents of this rural area in Western Pennsylvania were shocked and concerned about the senseless violence they saw in the bright afternoon sun. They anxiously waited to hear whether their favorite political figure had survived.

However, the events in Butler extend beyond mere debates about gun regulations.

The United States has been heading towards this point for a long time - a political climate that is not just competitive but extremely negative. Some individuals in this country have no trouble expressing hatred towards their political rivals - it's deep-seated and has become ingrained in the nation's character.

It's not just about politics. You can also notice it in the differences between the east and west coasts, the urban areas and the countryside. The divisions between the northern and southern regions also play a role in this dynamic. Everything seems to be categorized based on what it is not, rather than what it actually is.

Looking back, it seems like last night could be a significant moment in history. Now the leaders in our country must decide if they want to make things better or worse. Will they choose to create more conflict or work towards unity?

As someone who is not originally from this country but cares deeply for it, I don't have much optimism.