The shooter responsible for a deadly attack at former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday has been identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from the nearby town of Bethel Park, according to reports cited by The Free Press Journal.
Video: Sniper fires at Trump shooter/Credit: X
The FBI is leading the investigation into the incident, which left one attendee dead and another critically injured before Secret Service personnel neutralized the assailant.
NBC News reported that Pennsylvania voter records showed Thomas Matthew Crooks, with the same address and date of birth, as a registered Republican, although it was unclear from the records when he had registered. FEC contribution records also show a single $15 ActBlue contribution earmarked to Progressive Turnout Project, a liberal voter turnout group.
Video: The assassination attempt of Donald Trump /
According to the New York Times, Crooks did not have a criminal history reflected in Pennsylvania's public court records. According to The Tribune-Review, he completed his high school education at Bethel Park High School in 2022, having received a $500 "star award" upon graduation from the National Math and Science Initiative.
Footage circulating online showed Crooks confessing his hatred for Trump and the Republican Party, but the video was revealed to have been forged by an impersonator.
? #BREAKING: New angle of assassination attempt on President Trump from behind
These videos are terrifying pic.twitter.com/QDoDSeGOeA
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 14, 2024
The shooting occurred during Trump's speech, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement and Secret Service agents. While authorities have not yet determined a motive for the attempted assassination, the FBI has pledged to dedicate all necessary resources to the investigation.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as gunshots rang out during the rally. Secret Service agents quickly surrounded Trump and whisked him off stage, with blood visible on his face. As he was led away, Trump raised his fist toward the crowd in a gesture of defiance.
Thomas Matthew Crooks ID'd as gunman who shot Trump during Pa. rally https://t.co/7ycBdrQ7WK pic.twitter.com/CrqNnyjZrE
— New York Post (@nypost) July 14, 2024
Hours after the incident, Trump recounted the harrowing moments in a post on Truth Social. "I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," he wrote. "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin."
Despite the close call, Trump's campaign senior advisers, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, confirmed that the former president is "doing well" and plans to attend the upcoming Republican convention in Milwaukee, where he is scheduled to accept his party's nomination.
In his statement, Trump expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and law enforcement for their rapid response. He also offered condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. "Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured," Trump said.
