The man who shot former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania political rally has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks.
“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 Bureau said in a statement. “This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
Crooks was killed by law enforcement officials moments after he opened fire.
In a chaotic scene “law enforcement, I believe, acted heroically, quickly identifying and neutralising the threat as well as responding to assist the various victims,” Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said at a news conference near midnight on Saturday.
Crooks carried no identification and had to be identified using other techniques, Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge, said at the late-night press conference in Butler, Pa.
“We’re looking at photographs right now and we’re trying to run his DNA and get biometric confirmation,” Rojek said.
Around 1:30 am Sunday, several law enforcement vehicles were stationed outside Crooks’ residence listed on his voter registration record. The home sits along a winding suburban road in Bethel Park, about 42 miles south of Butler. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene and a bomb squad was at the residence and planned to enter the home.
A member of the Allegheny County bomb squad told reporters he and several officers would be going into the house imminently around midnight. He did not say what they were looking for.
Neighbours standing outside said they were in disbelief.
Dan Maloney, 30, said he saw the shooter’s name on social media and looked it up to see that he lives down the road.
“It’s insanity that anyone would do this,” he said, adding that he at one point had planned on attending the rally.
John Wolf, who lives just down the road from Crooks, said he’s been in contact with several worried neighbours.
“People are scared,” Wolf, a local construction superintendent, said.
The 50-year-old was “in shock” when his sister told him the shooter lived in his neighbourhood. He was going to go to the rally but decided against it because of the heat.
USA Today reached out to several of Crooks’ family members but none responded immediately to requests for comment.
Crooks was registered as a Republican and was in active voting status, according to the database service LexisNexis. He appears to have attended Bethel Park High School, graduating in 2022.
Former president Trump ducked down and was quickly covered by security personnel after apparent shots rang out and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee put his hand to the side of his head. Soon after, Trump appeared to have blood on his ear and the side of his face as he was ushered off stage.
Several hours after the shooting, Trump expressed gratitude to the Secret Service agents who protected him as shots rang out.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.”
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening.” (USAToday)
