Butler was the site of the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of Trump by Bethel Park resident Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who opened fire at an outdoor rally. One of Crooks' bullets grazed Trump's ear as he was nearly 10 minutes into his speech. Another bullet killed volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore.

The suspect lives in Butler, Pa., the same town where Trump survived a would-be assassin’s bullet that grazed his ear during a campaign rally in July.