Secret Service agents whisked Donald Trump out of a rally amid panic as someone hollered “gun” next to the stage in Nevada, authorities said.
A pair of agents ushered the Republican presidential nominee backstage around 9 p.m. at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center as cops escorted a protester out of the auditorium Saturday night.
A person yelling “gun” sparked the chaos, according to Secret Service officials. Shortly after calling out a protester, Trump paused and squinted to see the swarming crowd shouting unintelligibly below just before two agents grabbed him.
“Alright, go,” commanded one agent next to a live mic.
Police and a SWAT team swarmed a man brandishing a “Republicans Against Trump” sign and subdued him, patting him down for weapons, as supporters jeered. No weapon was found.
A Reno television station identified the man as Austyn Crites, 33.
Crites said supporters “manhandled” him after whipping out an anti-Trump sign.
“I get tackled by all these people who are kicking me, grabbing me in the crotch and just beating the crap out of me,” the Reno resident told KRNV-TV.
“It’s possible these people could have strangled me and killed right on the spot,” Crites added.
Crites said he is thankful law enforcement officers rushed into the crowd. He was released after spending nearly two hours detained in a bathroom guarded by riot-geared police at the convention center, according to the TV station.
Trump returned to the stage amid cheers after the seven-minute break and continued to campaign.
“Nobody ever said it was going to be easy for us, but we will never be stopped. Never ever,” Trump said.
He thanked his Secret Service detail and local authorities in Nevada for their “fast and professional response” at the rally, his campaign said in a statement.
“These guys are fantastic — they don’t get enough credit,” he said at the rally.
