After an assassination attempt on former United States President Donald Trump during a political rally on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Pennsylvania, authorities have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Crooks.
According to USA Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stated on Sunday that Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was involved in the incident in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The FBI described the situation as an ongoing investigation and encouraged anyone with relevant information, including photos or videos, to come forward.
During the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump, the Republican candidate for the upcoming November 5, 2024, presidential election, was targeted by gunfire. Secret Service agents swiftly moved him offstage into an SUV for safety.
At the rally, the gunman and a bystander were killed, and two spectators sustained critical injuries.
According to AFP, the Secret Service reported that the shooter fired multiple shots from an elevated position outside the rally before being “neutralized” by agents.
Trump recounted the incident, describing how he realized he had been shot in the upper part of his right ear and immediately sensed something was wrong upon hearing shots and feeling the bullet tear through his skin.
CNN reported that after the shooter was killed at the scene, Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, mentioned that Crooks had no identification on him, necessitating DNA analysis and biometric confirmation.
Here are key details about Thomas Crooks:
– Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, as reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
– State voter records indicate that Crooks was a registered Republican, noted by Reuters.
– Crooks lived approximately an hour away from the shooting location in Butler.
– At the age of 17, Crooks made a $15 donation to ActBlue, a political action committee supporting left-leaning and Democratic politicians, based on a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing.
– Crooks received a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative, as detailed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
CNN contacted the shooter’s father, Matthew Crooks, who expressed shock and stated he would wait to speak with law enforcement before commenting further. Nearby resident John Wolf remarked that there is widespread concern among neighbors about the situation.
The incident continues to be a subject of intense investigation and scrutiny by law enforcement agencies.
