F.B.I. Examining Bullet Fragments Found at Trump Rally Site
The F.B.I. is examining numerous metal fragments found near the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., to determine whether an assassin's bullet--or potential debris--grazed former President Donald J. Trump's head, bloodying his ear, according to the F.B.I. and a federal law enforcement official.. . .
It is not unusual for the type of bullet that Mr. Crooks fired from his AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle to tumble end over end and break apart after hitting even a small solid object. Gun experts say a fragment might, for instance, have hit a metal stanchion.
Still, a bullet could have grazed Mr. Trump's ear, and the F.B.I. has not ruled that out. Investigators found eight rifle casings on the roof where the shooter was positioned.
It is not clear if investigators have eliminated other potential sources of debris. But bureau analysts appear to be focused on metal fragments, as opposed to glass from the teleprompters onstage. Photos of the teleprompters next to Mr. Trump show they were intact after the bullets were fired. . . .
Gun experts said the F.B.I. could rely on trajectory analysis, a physical examination of any linked bullet and the president's wound to possibly figure out what happened. A detailed analysis of bullet trajectories, footage, photos and audio by The New York Times strongly suggests Mr. Trump was grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by Mr. Crooks. . . .
One other scenario investigators are likely to explore: that the bullet, deadly but friable, might have fragmented after skimming Mr. Trump's ear.
"The problem you have with a bullet traveling at 3,200 feet per second is that it fragments very easily when it hits a surface before the target," Mr. Harrigan said. "It's going to be tough with the fragmentation to definitely say what happened. "
