A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, FBI says
The gunman who fired shots at former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, PA, Saturday night has been identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, PA.
He was killed by a Secret Service sniper at the rally, officials said. In a statement, the FBI confirmed Crooks' involvement in the assassination attempt on July 13 and urged anyone with information to submit photos or videos online or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. "We do not currently have an identified motive," said Kevin Rojek, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge. The suspect had no known foreign terrorism ties and was not on law enforcement's radar. Without identification, investigators used DNA to confirm his identity.
The FBI and Secret Service are investigating Crooks' background and speaking with his family, and have secured and searched his home. One audience member was killed and two are in critical condition. Trump said a bullet grazed his ear; he was checked at a local hospital before leaving under Secret Service protection. The gunman fired with an AR-style rifle from 200 to 300 feet away, from a shed roof outside the security perimeter.
Additional Secret Service assets, including counter-sniper teams, drones, and robotic dogs, were present due to Trump's heavy campaigning. Trump's teleprompter, flag, and podium banners are protective. A rally attendee saw the gunman "bear crawling" up the building and alerted authorities before shots were heard. Other witnesses also tried to warn officers. The FBI is leading the investigation.
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