The FBI has identified the man who shot at former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally as Thomas Matthew Crooks. The 20-year-old opened fire while Trump was addressing a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, leaving one person dead and two others injured. Crooks was shot dead at the scene by a Secret Service sniper.
Authorities are investigating Crooks’ motive and whether anyone else was involved in the assassination attempt. His father, Matthew Crooks, expressed shock and confusion over his son’s actions, stating he would wait to speak to law enforcement before commenting further.
Video footage shows the gunman on a roof firing shots, with one person killed and two others injured in the shooting. Trump himself was struck by a bullet that pierced his ear, but he is said to be “doing well” and grateful for the swift response of law enforcement.
The suspected gunman was less than 200m away from Trump when he opened fire with an AR-style rifle. The FBI is still determining the type of firearm used and the number of shots fired. A Secret Service sniper quickly neutralized the threat, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
