 "A registered Republican voter, a Math geek: All about Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20-year-old Trump rally shooter")
In one of the biggest shockers in American politics in recent years, there was an assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. He was injured during a shooting on Saturday evening during a rally in Pennsylvania’s Butler.
A gunman and at least one member of the audience were dead, the Secret Service said. Two other attendees were critically injured.
The FBI has identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks. Here’s what we know about him so far.
What happened at the Donald Trump rally?
The attack on Donald Trump comes days before he becomes the official Republican presidential nominee.
At the rally, the former president was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when at least five shots were fired.
Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Secret service agents quickly created a shield around him.
When Trump finally stood, his face was bloodied and he pumped his fist to cheering supporters. He said on social media later that he was shot and hit by a bullet in the “upper part of my ear”.
Who is the gunman who shot at Trump?
The Secret Service said that it killed the suspected shooter who fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsFederal investigators had at first tentatively identified the suspect. He is about 20 and is from Pennsylvania, according to five senior US law enforcement officials.
The FBI has now named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the gunman involved in the assassination attempt against Trump. “The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania.”
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI,” it said in a statement.
Updated FBI statement on the ongoing incident that took place yesterday in Butler, Pennsylvania. https://t.co/yqwxGmKOjw pic.twitter.com/pk2Rw55Lga
— FBI (@FBI) July 14, 2024
Crooks was first named by the New York Post in an exclusive report_._ He was planted on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 118 metres away from the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds, where Trump was giving his speech. An AR-style rifle was recovered from him, according to The Post report.
Law enforcement officials believe the weapon used to shoot at Trump was purchased by Crook’s father, the Associated Press reports. Speaking on condition of anonymity, two officers told the news agency that the gun was purchased at least six months ago
Crooks was a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 56 kilometres south of Butler, where Trump was holding his rally. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, according to a local media report and a video of the school’s commencement, reports CNN.
He received a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative, according to the newspaper, reports Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Public records show that Crooks was registered to vote as a Republican. This year’s presidential election would have been the first in which he would vote.
According to records of the Federal Election Commission, a donor listed as Crooks with his address gave $15 to a Democratic-aligned political action committee called the Progressive Turnout Project in January 2021, the report says.
Speaking to CNN, Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, said he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” but would “wait until I talk to law enforcement” before speaking about his son.
An eyewitness, in an interview with the BBC, said he saw a man armed with a rifle crawling up a roof near the event. The person said he and the people he was with started pointing at the man, trying to alert security.
US law enforcement officials said that Crooks carried no identification to the site of the shooting and had to be identified using other methods.
JUST IN: The suspect who tried to ass*ssinate Donald Trump made a donation to Democrat-aligned ActBlue on Biden's inauguration day.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 14, 2024
20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was a registered Republican.
His father, who spoke with CNN, says he is trying to find out "what the h*ll is… pic.twitter.com/LMJLLMzbNd
What about the motive?
That is not known yet.
The FBI official also said that they are not yet sure of the motive behind the assassination attempt. “We do not currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” he said on Saturday night.
Rojek added that it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire multiple shots during the rally. “We’re still working through the security apparatus that the Secret Service had in place, what potentially happened,” he added, according to a report in CNN.
“There’s going to be a long investigation into exactly what took place and how the individual was able to get access to the location, what type of weapon he had. All that is really days, weeks, and months of investigation,” he added.
According to CBS News, police have sealed off the road to the house where Crooks lives. Bethel Park Police said there is a bomb investigation surrounding the home.
How was the suspect killed?
As soon as shots were fired at Trump, snipers and Secret Service agents sprung into action.
Secret Service officials heard the gunshots and swarmed onto the podium surrounding the former president and escorted him off stage.
Two armed officials reportedly aimed at the gunman minutes after he fired the shots. He was later captured and neutralised by the Security Service officials.
This is a developing story and shall be updated.
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