20-year-old man identified in assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump

PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES: Authorities have confirmed that the shooter at a rally for former President Donald Trump is a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania.

In an official statement on Sunday (14 July), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the individual involved in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on 13 July in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Crooks had not been carrying identification, so investigators used DNA and facial recognition technology to identify him, the FBI stated.

Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, told reporters that the gun used in the shooting was an AR-style semiautomatic rifle.

Investigators believe the weapon was purchased by Crooks’ father, though it is unclear how Crooks accessed it.

“We do not currently have an identified motive,” Rojek said, noting that the investigation could last for months as investigators work tirelessly to determine Crooks’ motive.

Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, told CNN he is trying to understand the situation and will wait to speak with law enforcement before commenting further.

The Crooks family is reportedly cooperating with investigators.

The FBI announced that Crooks’ social media profiles did not contain threatening language and there is no history of mental health issues.

Additionally, Discord confirmed that Crooks had an account on the platform, which was rarely used and showed no evidence of planning or political discussions related to the incident.

Crooks also had no military affiliations, according to Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder.

The FBI emphasized that this remains an active and ongoing investigation and encouraged anyone with information to submit photos or videos online at fbi.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The shooting at the Trump rally resulted in the deaths of the shooter and an attendee, with two others critically injured.

The attendee killed was identified as Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter and father of two daughters, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said on Sunday.

Comperatore “died a hero” by protecting his family from the gunfire, according to his wife.

The two critically injured individuals, now in stable condition, were identified as 57-year-old David Dutch from New Kensington and 74-year-old James Copenhaver of Moon Township.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris expressed sympathy for the victims and their families and affirmed the ongoing dedication to the investigation.

Former President Trump extended his condolences to the victims and their families in a post on TruthSocial.

“We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed,” he wrote.

The shooting, which is being investigated as an attempted assassination, took place at the fairgrounds in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (13 July).

The rally began at 6:02 pm with Trump addressing the crowd.

Moments later, as he pointed to a projection of a chart showing a spike in illegal border crossings, shots rang out.

Trump clutched his ear as Secret Service agents rushed toward him, prompting him to drop to the ground.

The crowd followed suit, dropping down as silence fell over the area, interrupted only by occasional screams.

Trump’s campaign later stated that he is “fine” after being swiftly removed from the stage by Secret Service agents.

In an update on Monday (15 July) Trump announced that he had initially planned to delay his trip to Wisconsin and the Republican National Convention by two days.

However, he decided not to let a “shooter” or potential assassin disrupt his schedule.

In response to the incident, President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House Oval Office on Sunday, urging Americans to lower the political temperature and remember they are neighbors.

“We can’t allow this violence to be normalized. The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. It’s time to cool it down,” he said.

“We all have a responsibility to do this.”

Biden emphasized that “politics must never be a killing field” and that “nothing is more important than standing together.”