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Thomas Matthew Crooks identified as the suspect who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at the rally in Butler, PA.
He is a male, approximately 20, and from Pennsylvania.
Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pa., squeezed off shots — one of which grazed Trump in the ear — at an outdoor rally in Butler, just outside Pittsburgh.
Sources said Crooks was was planted on a roof of a manufacturing plant more than 130 yards away from the stage at Butler Farm Show grounds.
Here’s what we know about the shooting in Pennsylvania that injured former President Donald Trump on Saturday.
What happened?
About six minutes into Trump’s speech, the former president could be seen clutching his ear after popping noises blared through the rally. Trump ducked to the ground as several Secret Service agents rushed to the stage and surrounded him on all sides. Screams from onlookers rang out as the scene unfolded.
Roughly a minute later, agents helped Trump get up from the ground and stand. He held his fist up to the crowd, prompting cheers from supporters. Several agents then rushed him off the stage and escorted him into a vehicle.
Blood could be seen on Trump’s ear and on the side of his face. He later said on his social media site, Truth Social, that “a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”
Was anyone hurt?
Witnesses described hearing loud popping noises, with one person saying they saw someone who was shot in the back of the head and another person who said she saw someone “bleeding profusely.”
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, said in a statement that his nephew was injured in the shooting. Jackson said his family was seated near Trump, and that after they heard shots, his nephew realized something had grazed and cut his neck.
He said his nephew’s injury was not serious and “he is doing well.”
Secret Service said in a statement on X that they “neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.”
“US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated,” the statement said. “One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured.”
Witnesses described hearing loud popping noises, with one person saying they saw someone who was shot in the back of the head and another person who said she saw someone “bleeding profusely.”
Was it an assassination attempt? Which agencies are investigating?
Law enforcement is investigating the incident as an assassination attempt.
The FBI said it is leading the investigation and that special agents from its Pittsburgh field office responded immediately. They are working alongside U.S. Secret Service, state and local law enforcement.
“We will continue to support this investigation with the full resources of the FBI, alongside our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and state and local law enforcement,” the FBI said in a statement. “Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is asked to call our tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
The House of Representatives will also be investigating the shooting, according to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., earlier said his committee would be investigating.
