Audio Forensic Interpretation of the Trump Rally Assassination Attempt (July 13, 2024)

Abstract

This is a case study describing the rapid audio forensic assessment of recordings from the assassination attempt against presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, PA, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Audio from the podium microphones revealed gunshot sound sequences of ballistic shock waves and muzzle blast sounds consistent with rifle bullets traveling at supersonic speed. Additional independent audio evidence was captured by cell phone videos recorded by individuals in the crowd at the time of the shooting. The acoustical consistency between the podium microphone signal and the audio from the numerous user-generated cell phone videos provided strong confidence of authenticity. Within a few hours of the incident, audio forensic analysis identified ten audible gunshots, with the first eight coming from a single position consistent with the subsequent identification of the would-be assassin’s body and two other shots attributable to law enforcement officers.