Two Secret Service agents rushed Donald Trump off the stage at a political rally in Nevada Saturday night after a melee broke out in the crowd in front of where the Republican presidential nominee was standing. The agency said in a statement that “Trump was removed from the stage at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center after someone shouted ‘Gun!’, causing a commotion.”
https://youtu.be/uGgjKxTjCI8
According to KRNV, a man who was holding a “Republicans Against Trump” sign was briefly detained by the Secret Service and later released from custody.
Here is the man in question, in handcuffs, being searched by officers after he was escorted out of the rally area. pic.twitter.com/pjoMCtM39K
— Jacob Rascon (@KPRC2Jacob) November 6, 2016
No weapon was found after a search of the surrounding area and Trump returned to the stage after a few minutes.
@realDonaldTrump retakes stage after scary incident in Reno NV: "No one said it would be easy for us … we will never be stopped."
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) November 6, 2016
Via Fox News:
A source told Fox News that someone in the crowd saw another attendee reach around his back and toward his waistband. The first person shouted “Gun!” several times, sparking panic right in front of the stage where Trump was speaking.
Two Secret Service agents quickly surrounded Trump before hustling him off the stage. Trump returned moments later and told the crowd,” “Nobody said it was going to be easy for us. But we will never be stopped. Never, ever be stopped.”
The Secret Service statement noted that magnetometers are used at presidential campaign sites.
“All general public attending these events must go through a magnetometer screening prior to entering a protected area,” the agency said.
Witness David Newton told the Reno Gazette-Journal that the man holding the sign was trying to get closer to the stage just before the disturbance.
“He had something on his belly. I don’t know what it was,” Newton told the paper. “Somebody yelled ‘gun’ and everyone jumped on him. My friend put his knee on his head, but he kept getting up.”
This wasn’t the first time the Secret Service had to come to Trump’s defense during a rally. Back in March, agents jumped on stage and surrounded the candidate after a protester tried to rush the stage in Dayton, Ohio. That suspect was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and inducing panic — both misdemeanors.
Trump issued the following statement about this latest incident: “I would like to thank the United States Secret Service and the law enforcement resources in Reno and the state of Nevada for their fast and professional response. I also want to thank the many thousands of people present for their unwavering and unbelievable support. Nothing will stop us – we will make America great again!”
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