The suspect in Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump used a gun purchased by his father. The Wall Street Journal reported.This was said by a person familiar with the investigation.
A Secret Service sniper shot and killed 20-year-old suspect Thomas Matthew Crooks at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, authorities said. He told CBS NewsMultiple law enforcement sources said the shooter was armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle and opened fire from the roof of a shed outside the sealed-off meeting area.
“At this time, a motive has not been determined,” Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office said at a press conference late Saturday night, according to CBS News.
ABC News cited multiple law enforcement sources: report The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted an emergency investigation and determined that the gun recovered at the scene had been legally purchased by the suspect’s father.
Reuters Crooks’ father, 53-year-old Matthew Crooks, told CNN he was still trying to figure out what happened and would not talk about his son until he had spoken with police.
Trump survived the shooting but was seen on video bleeding from his ear before Secret Service officers escorted him off the rally stage. Authorities said one spectator was killed and two were in critical condition. CBS News quoted police as saying the victims were all men, but their names were not released.
The FBI said Crooks was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh and just over an hour south of Butler, where the rally took place, CBS News reported. The Washington Post reported. By early Sunday morning, authorities had “sealed off the area around the suspect’s home, with local fire department vehicles blocking off traffic for several blocks and allowing only residents and investigators access.”
The Secret Service and FBI have spoken with the suspect’s family, the FBI has secured the suspect’s home and federal law enforcement is conducting a search, CBS News reported, citing a law enforcement source. CNN, citing multiple law enforcement sources, said: report The suspect had explosives in his car and at his home.
Fox News cited the voting records, report Thomas Matthew Crooks is a registered Republican, he added, and only participated in the Nov. 8, 2022 state election because of his age. Reuters, citing a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing, added that Crooks donated $15 at age 17 to ActBlue, a “political action committee that raises money for left-leaning and Democratic politicians.” The news agency added that the donation was for the Progressive Turnout Project, a national group that encourages Democrats to vote. Reuters reported that the groups did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
More from Fox News:
Crooks is a 2022 graduate of Bethel Park High School and was one of nearly 20 students from the school to receive a $500 “STAR Award” from the National Math and Science Initiative.
An online recording of the graduation ceremony shows him taking to the stage to faint applause and briefly posing with school officials. The New York Times reported..
A Fox News Digital investigation found that Crooks turned 21 in September. He had no reported criminal or traffic violations, and no bankruptcies, liens or foreclosures.
“At this time, a motive has not been determined,” Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office said at a press conference late Saturday night, according to CBS News.
Law enforcement officials said early Sunday that there were no known foreign terrorism links so far, the suspect was not under law enforcement surveillance and authorities were still searching for the suspect’s name, CBS News reported.
The FBI statement about Crooks also said, “The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censorship and sign up for our newsletter to receive stories like this directly to your inbox. Sign up here!
