In a statement Sunday, the FBI said it had concluded that the “subject involved” in the assassination attempt on the former president was 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The incident occurred Saturday night at the Butler Park Showgrounds in Pennsylvania during a political rally.
Using the statement that “a bullet went through the top of my right ear,” Trump claimed on social media that he was “fine” after the shooting.
With blood all over his ear, the former president was quickly pulled off the stage by Secret Service agents. One person died, and two others were seriously injured.
It was initially unclear what Crooks’ political beliefs were. He was shot by the Secret Service in an assassination attempt.
According to a federal campaign finance filing, Crooks donated $15 to a Communist political action group in 2021, even though records show he was a Republican registered voter in Pennsylvania. Authorities have not released much about a possible motive.
Due to special safety concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday that the airspace over Bethel Park will be closed “effective immediately.”
The US Secret Service said one of its officers shot and killed the suspect who fired at Trump, who was speaking on stage at the time, “from an elevated position outside the rally site” in Butler County.
He praised the “quick response of the police”.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump offered his condolences to the families of those who were seriously injured at the rally and to the man who died there.
He was said to have been released at approximately 10:20 p.m. local time after being transported to the hospital for evaluation.
“It is unbelievable that such an act could happen in our country.”
NBC News film of the rally showed more than a dozen bullets; later footage appeared to be from agents protecting the president, who was speaking on stage at the time.
A voice said, “Get down, get down, get down!” Agents arrived to pounce on Trump as the shooting continued and the audience could be heard wailing.
Agents’ voices are heard saying, “Shooter’s out.” The shooter was shot down. Are we ready to go? We are quite clear.
“Give me my shoes, please. When security tried to throw Trump off the stage during the speech, he yelled, ‘Let me get my shoes.’ Agents can be heard telling the former president, “I got you.” Wait a moment.
You have blood on your head. We have to move.
His words were, “Wait, wait.” Then, as he said those words, he pumped his fist and said, “Fight, fight, fight.”
“USA! USA! USA!” the rally participants shouted back.
After that, Trump was taken out of sight by agents. Trump has blood on his ear in the video.
ÂÂÂÂÂView this post on InstagramÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
One aspect of the attack that officials “will have to figure out,” according to local District Attorney Richard Goldfinger, who appeared on CNN, was how the gunman got close enough to Trump to point the rifle at him and fire repeatedly.
One Trump supporter provided the most detailed early account of the shooting, claiming he was outside the scene and could still hear the former president’s campaign speech when he saw a man with a gun climb to the top of a nearby building.
ÂÂÂÂÂView this post on InstagramÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
According to the man, whose name the BBC has not released, he and other people he was with started pointing at the man to alert security and police to the existence of a “guy on the roof with a rifle”. But since there were no police, the gunman fired multiple shots at Trump within a short period of time.
An eyewitness told the BBC that the attacker was then shot and “shot in the head*” by Secret Service agents.
The organization said the bullets appeared to have come from somewhere outside the area secured by the Secret Service. The FBI says it is now in charge of investigating the attack.
At a briefing late Saturday, FBI officials told reporters that the suspect’s ability to fire multiple shots was surprising. The FBI and state law enforcement officials attended the briefing, but the Secret Service was not there.
Shortly after the event, US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was subpoenaed to testify before the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. The meeting was scheduled for July 22.
The social media panel wrote: “Americans demand answers to an assassination attempt on President Trump.”
Trump’s supporters have targeted the Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the former US president.
“How could a sniper with a loaded rifle climb onto the roof closest to the presidential candidate?” conservative activist Jack Posobiec asked on the X social network.
In a phone conversation with Trump after the incident, Joe Biden thanked him for keeping him “safe and well.” The president also called for widespread condemnation of political violence.
Biden said Trump’s event … should have been done in a non-violent way. “It’s just not appropriate.
Early Sunday, Biden arrived at the White House after finishing his weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
The White House said it would be briefed by Homeland Security and law enforcement this morning about the assassination attempt on Trump.
10
Vice President Kamala Harris was also in attendance.
Not much is known about Crooks at this time, other than his address and the fact that he gave $15 to a liberal PAC on January 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden took office. The payment was donated to the Progressive Turnout Project, ActBlue’s program to encourage liberals to vote.
Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN in a brief interview Saturday night that he was looking into “what the hell is going on” and that he would “wait until I talk to law enforcement” before commenting further.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Crooks received a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative upon graduating from Bethel Park High School in 2022.
The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has left the nation in shock and raised serious concerns about security measures at political events. The incident, which occurred during a rally in Butler Park, Pennsylvania, resulted in the tragic loss of life and the injury of several others. The FBI investigation into shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks reveals a complex background of his political affiliations and motives that remain unclear at this time. His unexpected actions prompted a wide-ranging investigation into how such an individual could get close enough to pose a deadly threat.
The reactions of political figures and the public after the attack underlined the seriousness of the situation. Trump himself expressed gratitude for the quick response of law enforcement agencies while expressing his condolences to those affected by the violence.
The incident also sparked discussions about the increasing incidence of political violence in the US and the need for comprehensive security protocols to ensure the safety of candidates and attendees at public rallies.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about the circumstances that allowed Crooks to carry out his attack. The call for accountability and oversight of security measures at political events has gained momentum, and lawmakers are demanding answers. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the tensions surrounding political discourse in America and the urgent need to address the underlying issues that contribute to such acts of violence. We hope that vigilance and proactive measures can prevent similar tragedies in the future and ensure that political engagement remains safe and constructive for all involved.