A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man was suspected to have been the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday, firing several shots and killing at least one spectator, federal and local law enforcement agencies said.
The FBI early on Sunday identified the suspect, who was killed at the scene, as Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park.
Shots rang out a few moments after Trump stepped onto an outdoor stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. The suspect was firing from the roof of a building outside the security perimeter, taking aim from hundreds of feet away from the stage, law enforcement said.
One of the bullets struck Trump in his right ear, the former president said. The U.S. Secret Service said Trump was “safe.”
A screen grab captured from a video, shows a person who is believed to be the suspected gunman according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Hank Jenkins/Anadolu via Getty Images
A Secret Service counter-sniper opened fire and killed the suspect, the agency said. The scene was “chaotic” and “everything unfolded very quickly,” Bevins said.
Law enforcement officials took several hours to publicly identify Crooks as their suspect, saying at a press conference late Saturday that they believed they knew who carried out the shooting, but were refraining from naming the individual.
Law enforcement members from the Allegheny County Police Department, guard the perimeter of the home of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, July 14, 2024.
Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters
Officials had said during that press conference that they were using the suspect’s DNA to confirm his identity, because the suspect had not been carrying anything that would have identified him.
“It’s a matter of doing biometric confirmations,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said. “So, there was no identification on the individual, for example, so we’re looking at photographs right now and we’re trying to run his DNA and get biometric confirmation.”
Police tape outlines a perimeter near the home of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, July 14, 2024.
Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters
It was too early in the investigation to say whether Crooks had been acting alone, Bivens said. Investigators were determining if anyone else had been involved, he said.
The FBI did not “currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” Rojek said.
As the FBI issued a statement early Sunday naming Crooks, a bureau spokesperson said the investigation remains “active and ongoing.” The FBI urged anyone with photos, videos or information to come forward.
ABC News’ Jack Date, Luke Barr, Isabella Murray and Mark Osborne contributed to this story.
The FBI has identified a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man as the suspect in the shooting that took place at a recent Trump rally. The incident occurred during a rally held in support of President Donald Trump in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
According to reports, the suspect opened fire on the crowd, injuring several individuals before fleeing the scene. The FBI has since launched an investigation into the shooting and has identified the suspect as a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania.
The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, but authorities believe it may have been politically motivated. The suspect is currently at large, and the FBI is urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
President Trump has condemned the shooting, calling it a “cowardly act of violence.” He has also called for increased security measures at his rallies to ensure the safety of attendees.
The shooting has sparked debate about the current political climate in the United States and the increasing tensions between supporters and opponents of President Trump. Many are calling for unity and an end to violence in political discourse.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, the FBI is working diligently to apprehend the suspect and bring him to justice. In the meantime, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Overall, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of peaceful and respectful political discourse. Violence has no place in our democracy, and it is crucial that we come together as a nation to denounce such acts and work towards a more harmonious and inclusive society.
