The FBI has confirmed the identity of Thomas Matthew Crooks as the individual behind the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump. The incident occurred on Saturday evening in Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was affiliated with the Republican Party according to electoral records.
The Secret Service responded swiftly, neutralizing Crooks who had taken an elevated position at the agricultural fair grounds where Trump was speaking. The attack resulted in one fatality among the attendees and left two others seriously injured. Trump himself narrowly escaped with a bullet grazing the top of his right ear.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with one individual recounting how they saw the shooter armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle climbing onto the roof. Despite attempts to alert the police, the shooter managed to open fire before being shot dead by Secret Service agents.
The timing of the assassination attempt is significant, coming just a day before the start of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The convention is set to officially endorse Trump's candidacy for the upcoming presidential election in November. The FBI's investigation into the incident is ongoing, with efforts focused on tracing the origin of the weapon used in the attack.
- Bethel Park, the home of the shooter, is a relatively affluent and predominantly white suburb in the southern part of Greater Pittsburgh. This detail adds a layer of complexity to the profile of the perpetrator, who was also a registered Republican voter.
- Videos from the scene captured the lifeless body of Crooks on the roof next to the fair grounds, highlighting the swift and decisive action taken by the Secret Service. Eyewitness accounts emphasize the confusion and urgency of the moments leading up to the shooter's neutralization.
- The use of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a weapon commonly associated with mass shootings in the United States, underscores the ongoing debate over gun control in the country. The FBI's investigation includes a thorough search of databases to trace the weapon's purchase and ownership history.
