LONDON, July 14: The suspect who was gunned down by security forces at former President Donald Trump's Pennsylvania rally shooting on Sunday has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in an official statement.
The three rally attendees who were shot are adult males, George Bivens, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, said at the briefing. One of the victims has died. The local prosecutor, Richard Goldinger, said that the assailant was positioned outside the event grounds on the rooftop of a manufacturing facility, more than 130 yards away from the stage where Trump was speaking. The open-air setting at the Butler Farm Show grounds provided the gunman a clear line of sight of his target.
Who is Thomas Mathew Crooks?
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The FBI on Sunday identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the "subject involved" in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
The shooter was a registered republican, reported Reuters citing the state voter records.
“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," said the agency in the official statement.
What has FBI said about the shooting?
According to Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh field office, the crime scene is still active, but there is no ongoing threat following the shooting.
"I don't know how he would have gotten to the location where he was, but he was outside the grounds. And I think that's something that we're going to have to figure out how he got there," said Goldinger. He confirmed that one rally attendee had died in the incident, while another was in serious condition at the hospital.
The US Secret Service said that "multiple shots (were fired) toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue," resulting in the death of one spectator and critical injuries to two others. The shooter was also killed, although further details were not provided.
Assassination attempt on Trump:
The Presidential candidate and billionaire Donald Trump was shot in the ear during his speech, causing his blood to streak across his face. His security agents quickly surrounded him before he emerged and pumped his fist in the air, mouthing the words "Fight! Fight! Fight!" He later shared on his Truth Social platform, "I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. Much bleeding took place."
