The FBI has identified the shooter in the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Pennsylvania, US media reported early Sunday.
"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," the FBI said in a statement quoted by NBC and CBS.
The US Secret Service said in a statement that the suspected shooter "fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally" before being "neutralized" by agents. It confirmed the death of a spectator while two others were critically injured.
Unconfirmed images appeared to show the assailant's body lying on the sloping roof of low building from where he had fired.
The apparent assassination attempt on Donald Trump involved "multiple shots (fired) toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue," the US Secret Service said Saturday.
"One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured," the agency said in a statement, adding the shooter has been killed, without giving further details.
The FBI has announced that it is close to identifying the shooter involved in an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in one spectator's death and left two others critically injured.
Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, addressed the press on Saturday night, stating that while the agency is near confirming the identity of the shooter, the individual's name has not yet been released. The suspect had no identification on him, complicating the identification process. Rojek mentioned that the FBI is using biometric confirmation, DNA analysis, and photographic comparisons to establish the shooter's identity.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Colonel George Bivens indicated that they are prepared to release information on the delays in identifying the shooter. "We have one shooter tentatively identified, but we’re not stopping there. We’re following up on a lot of information. It will be some time before we can conclusively answer that question," Bivens stated when questioned about the possibility of a lone wolf attack.
The Washington Post quoting a source familiar with the investigation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the shooter is a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, as Rojek confirmed that the FBI has not yet identified the shooter's reasons for targeting Trump.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he was "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear." The former president expressed gratitude for the support he has received and commended the quick response of law enforcement agencies.
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities continue to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this shocking event.
