On July 13, an attempt was made on the life of Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States and a leading candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The failed assassination, carried out with an AR-15 from a nearby rooftop, sparked numerous conspiracy theories and questions about the ballistics involved. Gun rights and Second Amendment YouTuber Brandon Herrera took it upon himself to address these theories and provide clarity using ballistic data and high-speed imagery.
Setting the Stage
In his latest video, Herrera, known for his detailed and educational firearms content, discussed the attempt on Trump’s life and the subsequent myths that emerged. “Given that recreating historical assassinations is something that we do quite a lot on the channel,” Herrera began, “we figured that we might be able to shed some light on some of these subjects that are currently in heavy debate.”
The Assassination Attempt
Herrera recounted the events of July 13th, when the assassin fired several rounds, one of which grazed Trump’s right ear. The Secret Service quickly neutralized the threat with a sniper, ending the incident. However, the internet quickly became a breeding ground for conspiracy theories, ranging from claims of a staged event to debates about the lethality of an ear shot from an AR-15.
Disproving the Staged Shooting Theory
To address these theories, Herrera planned three demonstrations. The first aimed to show the difficulty of staging such a shot given the equipment used. He highlighted the shooter’s inferior AR-15 and the low-quality optics mounted too far forward, stating that a competent shooter could make a 130-150 yard shot, but it would be challenging with the described setup.
Demonstrating the Ear Shot
The second demonstration targeted the belief that an AR-15 shot to the ear would be fatal. Internet experts claimed it was either staged with blood packets or involved some fantastical elements. Herrera used a ballistic dummy to replicate the shot, showing that a graze wound to the ear, while serious, was plausible without resulting in instant death or severe brain damage.
High-Speed Imagery and Ballistics
For the final demonstration, Herrera, along with his high-speed camera team, captured the bullet’s impact on a dummy’s ear at 100,000 frames per second. This visual evidence showed the precise nature of the graze wound, debunking the theory that Trump’s head should have been blown off by such a shot. The imagery confirmed that the bullet’s trajectory was consistent with a superficial wound.
Replicating the Secret Service Sniper Shot
In an additional, more theatrical segment, Herrera recreated the Secret Service sniper’s return shot using a high-end Accuracy International .300 Win Mag rifle. This part of the video aimed to show the precision and power of the sniper shot that ended the assassin’s threat. The slow-motion footage dramatically illustrated the destructive force of the sniper round, providing a visual spectacle for viewers.
Analysis of the Attempt
Herrera emphasized the skill and luck involved in Trump’s survival. He noted that Trump’s slight turn of the head at the last moment likely saved him from a fatal hit. The detailed ballistic analysis provided a clear picture of how the events unfolded, countering misinformation and speculative theories.
Importance of Scientific Analysis
Herrera concluded his video by reinforcing the importance of data and scientific analysis in dispelling myths. “While stuff like this is kind of fun in a way that, you know, just doing science is fun, doing ballistic stuff is kind of fun,” he said, “I think it does kind of go without saying that the message that we’re trying to get out here today is just data trying to put right some conspiracy theories and things going around.”
“Twitter Experts”
People in the comments shared their thoughts: “I love how 99% of the Twitter experts have never touched a gun in their lives, yet have the confidence to talk about advanced ballistics of all things.”
Another commenter said: “It’s actually insane how close he was so dying, 1 second earlier his head would’ve been dead on”
One person added: “I love how the people that know nothing about guns are telling us how easy it is to purposely miss by a centimeter from 130 yards.”
Final Reflections
Brandon Herrera’s meticulous breakdown of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump provided much-needed clarity amid widespread speculation. His use of ballistic data and high-speed imagery not only debunked several conspiracy theories but also highlighted the critical role of precise information in understanding such events. Herrera’s approach underscores the value of scientific analysis in public discourse, particularly in controversial and politically charged situations.
Ballistics and Reality
What do you think? How can detailed ballistic analysis help in debunking myths and conspiracy theories about high-profile incidents? What role does public perception play in the spread of conspiracy theories, and how can accurate information counteract this? How do advancements in high-speed imagery and ballistic technology contribute to our understanding of firearm incidents?
For an in-depth look, view the complete video on Brandon Herrera’s YouTube channel here.
