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Former US President Donald Trump was shot in the ear at a political rally in Pennsylvania’s Butler. The shooter was killed by a member of the Secret Service. The FBI has identified the suspect as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania read more
 "Who was 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to kill Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania?")
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler on 13 July. AP
In one of the biggest shockers in American politics in recent years, there was an assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. He was injured during a shooting on Saturday evening during a rally in Pennsylvania’s Butler.
A gunman and at least one member of the audience were dead, the Secret Service said. Two other attendees were critically injured.
The FBI has identified the gunman has Thomas Matthew Crooks. Here’s what we know about him so far.
What happened at the Donald Trump rally?
The attack on Donald Trump comes days before he becomes the official Republican presidential nominee.
At the rally, the former president was showing off a chart of border crossing numbers when at least five shots were fired.
Trump was seen holding his ear and got down on the ground. Secret service agents quickly created a shield around him.
When Trump finally stood, his face was bloodied and he pumped his fist to cheering supporters. He said on social media later that he was shot and hit by a bullet in the “upper part of my ear”.
Who is the suspect who shot at Trump?
The Secret Service said that it killed the suspected shooter who fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue.
Federal investigators had at first tentatively identified the suspect. He is about 20 and is from Pennsylvania, according to five senior US law enforcement officials.
The FBI has now named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the gunman involved in the assassination attempt against Trump. “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.
“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,” it said in a statement.
Crooks was first named by the New York Post in an exclusive report_._ He was planted on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 118 metres away from the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds, where Trump was giving his speech. An AR-style rifle was recovered from him, according to The Post report.
Here is the latest information from our investigation. We are grateful to the Secret Service team and our law enforcement partners for their swift action. Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this tragedy. pic.twitter.com/E8FazqtUVZ
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) July 14, 2024What about the motive?
That is not known yet.
The FBI official also said that they are not yet sure of the motive behind the assassination attempt. “We do not currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” he said.
Rojek added that it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire multiple shots during the rally. “We’re still working through the security apparatus that the Secret Service had in place, what potentially happened,” he added, according to a report in CNN.
“There’s going to be a long investigation into exactly what took place and how the individual was able to get access to the location, what type of weapon he had. All that is really days, weeks, and months of investigation,” he added.
How was the suspect killed?
As soon as shots were fired at Trump, snipers and Secret Service agents sprung into action.
Secret Service officials heard the gunshots and swarmed onto the podium surrounding the former president and escorted him off stage.
Two armed officials reportedly aimed at the gunman minutes after he fired the shots. He was later captured and neutralised by the Security Service officials.
This is a developing story and shall be updated.
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English (US) ·