The gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired at Trump from the roof of a manufacturing plant, positioned over 130 yards away from the stage set up at Butler Farm Show grounds, according to the New York Post.
Unconfirmed reports claim that Crooks is a registered Republican, although this has not been officially verified.
Crooks was killed by the Secret Service shortly after the attack on Trump and at least one bystander died during the shooting incident. Two other spectators were seriously injured.
The FBI has formally confirmed the incident as an assassination attempt, heightening the already tense atmosphere surrounding Trump’s public appearances.
This is allegedly the creature who tried to take Trump’s life. His pronouns are now was/were. pic.twitter.com/i599vIC0Kt
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 14, 2024
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh field office, described the scene as an “active crime scene.”
“We have a number of agents on scene. We do not currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” he said.
The FBI’s swift response underscores the gravity of the situation and their commitment to uncovering the reasons behind Crooks’ actions.
George Bivens, Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, praised the quick actions of law enforcement officers, labelling their response as “heroic efforts” in neutralising the shooter.
“It was a chaotic scene,” he recounted. “There were some complicators that slowed down some of the processing and the positive identification of the shooter … but at this time, we have no reason to believe that there is any other existing threat out there.”
The former President took to Truth Social to share his harrowing experience, recounting how he heard a whizzing sound and felt a bullet graze his upper ear.
“Much bleeding took place so I realised then what was happening,” Trump wrote, highlighting the sudden and violent nature of the attack.
This is the moment former President Donald Trump was shot in side of the head at a rally in a horrifying assassination attempt #DonaldTrump #FYP #thebackcover #backcovernews pic.twitter.com/LsqXybZkm8
— The Back Cover (@backcovernews) July 13, 2024
Footage circulating online captures the intense moments following the shooting, showing police officers carrying an individual off a bleacher near the stage where Trump was delivering his speech. Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic and confusion as law enforcement worked to secure the area and protect attendees.
One Trump supporter, who witnessed the rally from a distance, told the BBC that he saw a man in tan clothing, armed with a rifle, climb onto a nearby building. He recounted the dramatic moments following the shooting.
“We noticed a guy crawling … bear crawling up the roof of the building beside us. He had a rifle. You could clearly see him with a rifle. We’re pointing at him, the police are running around on the ground,” he said.
The swift actions of the Secret Service and local law enforcement prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome. As FBI investigations continue, the nation watches closely, awaiting answers to the many questions surrounding this brazen assassination attempt on a former President.
