Article Summary –
The FBI has identified the shooter at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper after firing shots with a semi-automatic AR-style rifle from the roof of a shed outside of the venue. No motive is currently known, and it was revealed that one audience member was killed and two are in critical condition as a result of the shooting.
Gunman Identified in Assassination Attempt at Trump Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania
The FBI identified the gunman who fired at former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was killed by a Secret Service sniper at the rally.
“The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the individual involved in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania. We encourage anyone with information that may assist with the ongoing investigation to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI,” the FBI stated.
FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge, Kevin Rojek, acknowledged that no motive has been identified yet. Investigators have not established any foreign terrorism ties. The suspect was not previously on law enforcement radar, but his background is being scrutinized.
Investigators had to analyze the gunman’s DNA to confirm his identity, as he was not carrying identification. The FBI and the Secret Service are looking into the suspect’s background and communicating with his family. Federal law enforcement is searching the premises of his family’s residence in suburban Pittsburgh.
Suspicious devices were found in the gunman’s vehicle. Crooks’ political affiliations are unclear. He was registered as a Republican voter in Pennsylvania, but had previously donated $15 to a Democratic-aligned group. Bethel Park School District confirmed Crooks was a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School.
One person was killed and two critically injured at the rally. The victims were all men whose identities have not been disclosed. Trump disclosed in a social media post that a bullet grazed his right ear. He was checked at a local hospital before leaving under Secret Service protection.
Crooks was armed with a semi-automatic AR-style rifle and opened fire from a shed rooftop near the rally area. Trump’s Secret Service detail was given additional assets due to his heavy campaigning, including additional manpower, counter-sniper, drones, and robotic dogs. Four counter-sniper teams were on-site on the day of the incident.
A witness, Greg, recalled seeing a man “bear crawling” up the building with a rifle. He alerted law enforcement officers and estimated that the man was on the roof for around three to four minutes before shots were fired. Other witnesses corroborated his account. The FBI leads the investigation into the shooting.
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