The identity and background of the shooter who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday night has been revealed.
The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, but authorities did not release any additional information about him.
His father, Matthew Crooks, Said According to CNN, he said he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” but would “wait until I speak with police” before speaking.
“This remains an active investigation,” the FBI said in a statement early Sunday morning.
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump is escorted off stage during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean J. Puskar)
The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since 1981, when President Ronald Reagan was shot as he walked to his motorcade after delivering a speech in Washington, DC.
John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd, was the attempted assassin.
President Reagan recovered from a shooting in March 1981. Three others were also shot, including Press Secretary James Brady, who was left partially paralyzed by the gunfire.
The FBI noted that the man who attempted to assassinate Trump had no criminal history listed in Pennsylvania’s public court records, and said authorities had not determined a motive.
A police source told CBS News that Crooks was carrying an “AR-style rifle.”
In a statement, the FBI said:
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, age 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as a suspect in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. This case remains an active investigation and we encourage anyone with information that may assist investigators to submit photos and videos online at: FBI.gov/Butler Or, call 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek; FBI Officers in charge said Crooks had no identification and was identified through DNA testing.
The perpetrator made a $15 donation to the liberal ActBlue political action committee on January 20, 2021, the day of President Biden’s inauguration. The Intercept reported.
At the time of the donation, Crooks was 17 years old. He turned 18 that September and was registered to vote as a Republican. New York Post show.
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Pennsylvania State Police Lt. George Bevins said of the shooter’s motive, via NBC: “It’s too early to tell. We have tentatively identified one shooter, but the investigation is ongoing. We’re following multiple leads, but it will be some time before we can say definitively whether this was a lone shooter operation.”
The suspect was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service officers at the scene, agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said, adding that one bystander was killed and two others seriously injured in the shooting.
Authorities later revealed that all three victims were men.
