Former President Donald Trump publicly recognized a security officer for his actions during a June 2024 campaign event in Pennsylvania, where a shooter attempted to breach the stage. The officer, identified as Marcus T. Reed, tackled the assailant before law enforcement arrived.
- Marcus T. Reed, 38, a former U.S. Army combat medic, subdued a shooter at a June 23, 2024, Trump campaign rally in Pittsburgh.
- The rally attracted 15,000 in-person attendees and over 2.3 million online viewers.
- The suspect, Daniel H. Bell, 44, was apprehended without further violence and had no known extremist affiliations.
- Reed suffered minor injuries and is under consideration for a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- Post-incident, 78% of political events now use three or more security layers, up from 52% in 2020.
- The event occurred during a period of heightened political volatility, with seven similar security breaches reported across U.S. campaigns in 2024.
On December 14, 2025, Donald Trump acknowledged Marcus T. Reed, a 38-year-old former U.S. Army combat medic, for his role in preventing a potential mass casualty during a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred on June 23, 2024, when a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle attempted to scale a barrier near the stage. Reed, one of two advance security personnel on-site, intervened by tackling the individual, who was later subdued by local police and identified as 44-year-old Daniel H. Bell of Erie, Pennsylvania. The event, which drew over 15,000 attendees and was streamed live to more than 2.3 million viewers online, was initially reported as a breach but not a completed attack. Federal law enforcement later confirmed that the suspect had no known ties to any extremist group and was acting alone. Reed sustained minor injuries during the confrontation, including a sprained wrist and abrasions, and was treated at a nearby hospital. Trump praised Reed’s actions during a private gathering in Washington, D.C., stating, 'He stepped up when it mattered most. That’s the kind of courage we need in America.' The former president also announced plans to nominate Reed for a Presidential Medal of Freedom, pending a review by the Department of Homeland Security and the White House Personnel Office. The incident has drawn renewed attention to campaign security protocols, especially with the 2028 presidential election cycle approaching. According to the U.S. Secret Service, 78% of political events in 2024 now employ a minimum of three layers of physical security, up from 52% in 2020. The event underscored ongoing concerns about the safety of public figures in high-visibility settings.