>>> I’M TOM LLAMAS IN BUTLER, >>> I’M TOM LLAMAS IN BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, AT THE SITE OF THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. >> AND I’M HALLIE JACKSON IN WASHINGTON WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSING THE NATION TONIGHT. A SPECIAL EDITION OF "NIGHTLY NEWS" STARTS RIGHT NOW. >>> TONIGHT, NEW VIDEO OF THE MOMENT SHOTS WERE FIRED. >> TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED -- [ SHOTS FIRED ] [ SHOTS FIRED ] [ SCREAMING ] >> PRESIDENT TRUMP RUSHED TO SAFETY, NEW IMAGES OF THE SNIPER WHO TOOK OUT THE SHOOTER. >> WE HEARD OTHER SHOTS AND WE THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE THE SECRET SERVICE. >> NEW DETAILS ON THE GUNMAN. HIS PHOTO REVEALED AS POLICE SURROUND HIS HOME. >> HE WAS QUIET, BUT HE WAS BULLIED SO MUCH. SO MUCH. >> THE FORMER PRESIDENT ON CAMERA SHOWING THE WORLD HE IS OKAY ARRIVING IN MILWAUKEE TONIGHT WITH THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION STARTING JUST HOURS FROM NOW AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS INJURIES. HIS EAR MUST HAVE BEEN NIPPED. >> NEW QUESTIONS TONIGHT ABOUT HOW THE SHOOTER GOT SO CLOSE. >> WE WERE, LIKE, RIGHT HERE ON THE ROOF. WE CAN SEE HIM FROM RIGHT HERE. WE SEE HIM. HE’S CRAWLING. >> AS A COMMUNITY MOURNS THE SPECTATOR KILLED WHILE PROTECTING HIS FAMILY. >> COREY DIED A HERO. COREY WAS THE VERY BEST OF US. >> PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEAKING TO THE NATION TODAY. >> THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IS CONTRARY TO EVERYTHING WE STAND FOR. >> WITH AN OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS TONIGHT AS THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT UPENDS THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT. >> HE’LL KEEP FIGHT AND HE SHOULD. >> TONIGHT, THE VICTIMS, THE SURVIVORS AND THE SEARCH FOR A WAY FORWARD IN AMERICA. >> WE NEED TO ALL COME TOGETHER AS A HUMAN RACE, YOU KNOW? WE NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT. >> THIS IS A SPECIAL EDITION OF "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS." THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. REPORTING TONIGHT, HALLIE JACKSON AND TOM LLAMAS. >> GOOD EVENING. IT HAS BEEN A HORRIFIC AND HISTORIC SERIES OF EVENTS IN AMERICA. >> THOSE SHOTS FIRED JUST 24 HOURS AGO. THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WHICH TOOK PLACE RIGHT HERE JUST BEHIND ME HAS SHAKEN THIS COUNTRY AND SENDS A REMINDER THAT POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAPPENS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND EVEN RIGHT HERE. >> THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS INJURED, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS CAMPAIGN HE’S DOING FINE, AND HE’S ARRIVING IN MILWAUKEE TONIGHT SAYING HE WILL NOT LET THE SHOOTERS SCARE HIM AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION WHICH BEGINS TOMORROW AND PRESIDENT BIDEN, FOR HIS PART, ADDRESSING THE NATION THIS EVENING HERE IN WASHINGTON FROM THE OVAL OFFICE SPEAKING HOURS AGO ABOUT THE NEED TO HEAL THE COUNTRY. >> THE IMAGES FROM THE SHOOTING HAVE NOW BECOME SEARED INTO THE AMERICAN CONSCIOUSNESS. LOOK AT THIS, A BULLET ZIPPING PAST MR. TRUMP’S HEAD, JUST BARELY MISSING AND THE PRESIDENT INJURED AND BLOODIED, THROWING A DEFIANT FIST IN THE AIR. THE AMERICAN FLAG JUST BEHIND HIM. WE HAVE THIS NEW IMAGE. THE GUNMAN ON THE ROOF AS HE TAKES AIM IN A SNIPER POSITION, AND THE MOST TRAGIC. WE NOW KNOW WHO THE SPECTATOR KILLED WAS AND HOW HE DIED PROTECTING HIS FAMILY. WE’RE GOING TO PAY TRIBUTE TO HIM IN A MOMENT. HIM IN A MOMENT. OUR TEAM IS COVERING EVERY ACCEPT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION ACCEPT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT. >> AND NEW DETAILS ARE COMING IN TONIGHT ABOUT THE 20-YEAR-OLD GUNMAN WE JUST SHOWED YOU, BUT WHAT REMAINS A MYSTERY IS HIS MOTIVE. SHAQ BRAUFT BREWSTER TONIGHT TRACKING THE INVESTIGATION. >> TONIGHT, A MORE COMPLETE PICTURE OF SUSPECTED SHOOTER THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS. >> THE SHOOTER MAY BE DECEASED, BUT THE INVESTIGATION IS VERY MUCH ONGOING. >> THE FBI SAYING IT HAS NO INDICATIONS OF CROOKS HAVING ANY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE 20-YEAR-OLD WAS A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN WHO ACCORDING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DONATED $15 TO A DEMOCRATIC GROUP. THE INVESTIGATION NOW SHIFTING ROUGHLY 50 MILES SOUTH TO CROOKS’ HOME IN BETHEL PARK, PENNSYLVANIA. THE COUNTY BOMB SQUAD TELLING NBC NEWS THEY ENTERED HIS RESIDENCE OVERNIGHT. SOME CLOSE NEIGHBORS WERE EVACUATED, OTHERS SHAKEN BY LOUD SOUNDS. >> IT’S A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHAT GOES ON IN EVERYBODY’S HOMES, WE JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH IN THEIR OWN LIFE, WE JUST DON’T KNOW. >> TWO OFFICIALS TELLING NBC NEWS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT FOUND A NUMBER OF SUSPICIOUS CANISTERS OR CONTAINERS IN THE SUSPECT’S VEHICLE NEAR THE RALLY, BUT SAY IT’S UNCLEAR IF THEY WERE FUNCTIONAL EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. >> THOMAS CROOKS. >> WE ARE STARTING TO HEAR WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH CROOKS FOR YEARS. >> FORMER SCHOOLMATE DESCRIBING THE 20-YEAR-OLD AS A LONER WHO WAS REGULARLY BULLIED FOR WEARING HUNTING GEAR AND A SURGICAL MASS AT CLASS. >> HE WOULD SIT ALONE AT LUNCH AND HE WAS AN OUTCAST AND YOU KNOW HOW KIDS ARE NOW A DAYS AND THEY’LL SEE SOMEONE LIKE THAT AND THEY’LL TARGET HIM BECAUSE THEY THINK IT’S FUNNY OR WHATEVER. >> AS THEY ATTEMPT TO PIECE TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS TRAGEDY. >> INSANE. THIS IS WHERE I LIVE, LIKE -- THE FACT THAT IT’S COMING OUT OF HERE IS JUST -- MIND-BOGGLING. NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT. >> SHAQ, IT’S STILL AN ACTIVE SCENE BEHIND YOU AND THE FBI HAS SCENE BEHIND YOU AND THE FBI HAS NO SHORTAGE OF TIPS ALREADY? >> THAT’S RIGHT, TOM. THE FBI IS PUTTING TOGETHER A TIMELINE OF CROOKS’ ACTIONS BEFORE THE SHOOTING AND SAY THEY ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 2,000 TIPS. TOM? >> SHAQ BREWSTER WITH A LOT OF NEW REPORTING ON THAT WOULD-BE ASSASSIN. WE ARE LEARNING MORE TONIGHT ABOUT THE HEARTBREAKING TOLL THE SHOOTING HAS TAKEN ON THIS COMMUNITY. THE VICTIMS JUST IDENTIFIED INCLUDING A FIREFIGHTER DAD WHO INCLUDING A FIREFIGHTER DAD WHO DIED J YOU DON’T LIKE THE GUY DON’T YOU DON’T LIKE THE GUY DON’T VOTE FOR HIM. DON’T KILL HIM. WE LOVE THE GUY. WE’RE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM. >> WITH THAT, DASHA BURNS JOINS US LIVE FROM BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA. FAMILIES NATIONWIDE GRAPPLING WITH THIS FALLOUT. >> TOM, THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT. IT’S NOT JUST THIS COMMUNITY FEELING THE IMPACT, AS YOU WELL KNOW, PEOPLE TRAVEL TO TRUMP RALLIES FROM ALL OVER THIS REGION. SOME PEOPLE DRIVE FOR MILES AND SPEND ALL DAY WAITING IN LINE FOR THESE EVENTS, SO THE REACH OF THIS TRAGEDY DOES NOT STOP AT THE BORDERS OF BUTLER COUNTY OR EVEN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. TOM? >> AND SO MANY WATCHING ON TELEVISION, AS WELL. DASHA BURNS, WE APPRECIATE THAT. HALLIE, SO MANY LOOKING AT THOSE IMAGES AND THE VIDEOS ARE SEARED INTO OUR MINDS. I’M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN WASHINGTON. >> TOM, THANK YOU. THIS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT HAS ROCKED A BATTLE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS NOW APPARENTLY LANDED IN MILWAUKEE WHERE HE IS SET TO TAKE CENTER STAGE AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION WHICH IS TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW. HERE’S GARRETT HAAKE. >> IT’S BEEN OUR ONLY GLIMPSE OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ARRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT IN NEW JERSEY. TONIGHT HE’S BOUND FOR MILWAUKEE WHERE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN SAYS IT’S FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT WRITING HE, QUOTE, CANNOT ALLOW A SHOOTER OR POTENTIAL ASSASSIN TO FORCE CHANGE TO SCHEDULING OR ANYTHING ELSE. THE FORMER PRESIDENT EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HIS RUNNINGMATE TOMORROW. AND ON THURSDAY, ACCEPT THE GOP NOMINATION FOR A THIRD TIME ALL UNDER AN UNPRECEDENTED SPOTLIGHT AND SECURITY POSTURE. >> THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SECURE AREAS ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET RIGHT NOW. >> IN A NEW MEMO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN TELLING EMPLOYEES IN D.C. AND PALM BEACH TO STAY HOME TODAY AND SAYS IT’S ADDING ARMED SECURITY AT HIS CAMPAIGN OFFICES. THE STRUCTURE WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED, SOURCES SAY, BUT WITH THE SHOOTING’S EMOTIONAL IMPRINT. THOSE IMAGES OF MR. TRUMP, FACE BLOODIED AND FIST IN THE AIR IN THE MOMENTS AFTER THE SHOTS WERE INFUSED IN THE CAMPAIGN GOING FORWARD. >> THIS IS THE TOUGHEST GUY I THINK I’VE EVER MET. >> THE HEATED CAMPS, THE REAL THREAT IS FROM THE RADICAL LEFT AND IT’S GROWING EVERY DAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY THE THREAT FROM WITHIN. >> AND PRESIDENT BIDEN WITH REPUBLICANS SLAMMING HIS COMMENTS ABOUT MR. TRUMP INCLUDING THIS JUST TWO DAYS AGO. >> MOST IMPORTANTLY, I MEAN THIS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. TRUMP IS A THREAT TO THIS NATION. AND ACCORDING TO A SOURCE ON THE CALL TELLING DONORS ABOUT THE FALLOUT FROM THE DEBATE, QUOTE, IT’S TIME TO PUT TRUMP IN THE BULL’S-EYE. HE’S GOTTEN AWAY WITH DOING NOTHING FOR THE LAST TEN DAYS. >> I KNOW THAT HE DIDN’T MEAN WHAT HE IS BEING IMPLIED THERE, BUT THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE ON EITHER SIDE SHOULD BE CALLED OUT. >> A BIPARTISAN MESSAGE TO BOTH SIDES. >> WHAT WE NEED AS A NATION IS NOT RADICAL RHETORIC. POLITICS SHOULD BE KIND OF BORING. >> WHILE AMERICAN VOTERS WAIT AND WORRY. >> I HOPE THE NATION AS A WHOLE JUST TAKES A BIG, DEEP BREATH. >> GARRETT HAAKE IS JOINING US NOW. GARRETT, IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THIS ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT WILL SHAPE THE TONE OF THIS WEEK’S CONVENTION. >> THAT’S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, HALLIE. A REPUBLICAN OFFICIAL TELLS ME THEY EXPECT ANY NUMBER OF SPEAKERS TO MENTION IT AND IT COULD PROVIDE EMOTIONAL RESONANCE THROUGH THE WEEK AND RESONANCE THROUGH THE WEEK AND WITH WITHELF. WITHELF. HALLIE? >> GABE GUTIERREZ IN THE NORTH LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE. WE WILL CARRY THAT OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS LIVE TONIGHT AND JOIN US TOMORROW WHEN LESTER HOLT INTERVIEWS PRESIDENT BIDEN EXCLUSIVELY. THAT AIRS IN FULL AT 9:00 P.M. EASTERN. WE’RE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH OUR SPECIAL COVERAGE AND THE NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SECRET >>> WE’RE BACK LIVE FROM BUTLER, >>> WE’RE BACK LIVE FROM BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA. TONIGHT, THERE ARE NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT SECURITY AT THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S RALLY AND HOW DESPITE SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION, A GUNMAN GOT SO CLOSE TO MR. TRUMP. CLOSE TO MR. TRUMP. KEN DILANIAN HAS THAT STORY. >> TONIGHT, 24 HOURS AFTER THE ALARMING ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, GROWING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT MANY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE CALLING AN ENORMOUS SECURITY FAILURE. >> IF THAT BULLET WAS TWO INCHES TO THE RIGHT IT WOULD HAVE PENETRATED THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S FOREHEAD AND WE WOULD HAVE A GREAT AMERICAN TRAGEDY ON OUR HANDS. >> THE SECRET SERVICE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY AT THE RALLY AND TONIGHT IS FACING AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF HOW THE SHOOTING HAPPENED. >> THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE ALLEGED SHOOTER ON A ROOF JUST OUTSIDE THE RALLY SECURITY PERIMETER. FIRING SHOTS BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN OUT BY A SECRET SERVICE COUNTER SNIPER TEAM. THAT QUICK RESPONSE HAS BEEN PRAISED AS LIFE SAVING, BUT FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE ENTIRE INCIDENT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. >> THE BUCK DOES STOP WITH THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE. IT’S THEIR PLAN. YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE SO YOU CAN’T DEFLECT BLAME ON ANYBODY ELSE AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE ALL THESE LAYERS ARE PUT INTO PLACE. >> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SPEAKING FROM A STAGE IN A FIELD. THE SHOOTER WAS ONLY 148 YARDS AWAY ON TOP OF A ROOF, ONE OF ONLY A FEW ROOFTOPS IN THE RURAL AREA. A QUESTION TONIGHT, WHY WAS THAT ROOFTOP NOT SECURED? >> SO IF YOU LOOK AT AN AERIAL SHOT OF THAT AREA, MAYBE THERE IS HALF A DOZEN ROOFS, BUT NOT THOUSANDS OF ROOFS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. >> ALSO, WITNESSES SAY THEY SAW THE GUNMAN AND TRIED TO WARN POLICE. THE QUESTION NOW WERE THOSE WITNESSES IGNORED? >> WE WERE POINTING AT THEM AND THE POLICE ARE DOWN THERE RUNNING AROUND ON THE GROUND AND WE’RE, LIKE, HEY, MAN. THERE’S A GUY ON THE ROOF WITH THE RIFLE AND THE POLICE ARE, LIKE, HUH? WHAT? THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. >> TONIGHT THE SECRET SERVICE DID NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS FROM NBC NEWS AND DENIED ALLEGATIONS IT DENIED REQUESTS FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN FOR MORE RESOURCES. >> THEY’LL INVESTIGATE AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION, TOO, INCLUDING CALLING ON THE SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR TO TESTIFY. TOM? >> KEN, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE ARE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH THE >>> WE ARE BACK WITH SOME OF THE >>> WE ARE BACK WITH SOME OF THE DAY’S OTHER TOP STORIES INCLUDING SAD NEWS ABOUT ACTRESS SHANNON DOHERTY. THE STAR OF "BEVERLY HILLS >>> BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT, THE >>> BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT, THE STORIES OF BRAVERY EMERGING FROM YESTERDAY’S CHAOS AND OF THE HEROS WHO STEPPED IN TO HELP. TONIGHT, A NATION IN SHOCK WHILE A COMMUNITY UNITES IN MOURNING. >> WE NEED TO ALL COME TOGETHER AS A HUMAN RACE, YOU KNOW? WE NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT. >> WHAT LED TO SATURDAY’S