Authorities say Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Pennsylvania, responsible for shooting
By Jeremy Roebuck, Gillian McGoldrick
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Federal authorities on Sunday identified a 20-year-old Allegheny County man as the gunman who shot at former president Donald Trump in what they described as an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Western Pennsylvania.
The bureau said Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park, was responsible for the attack that left Trump with minor injuries, one spectator dead, and two others critically injured.
Speaking at a news conference earlier Sunday, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Pittsburgh, said authorities had not yet determined a motive for the shooting, which occurred around 6:15 p.m. Saturday just after Trump had taken the stage at the Butler Farm Show. Crooks, who was registered as a Republican, according to state voter rolls, was killed by a U.S. Secret Service agent shortly after opening fire.
“Our investigators are working tirelessly to identify what that motive was,” Rojek told reporters.
Those updates came as FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and Pennsylvania State Police fanned out across the region in the hours following the incident, which occurred two days before the scheduled start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the former president is expected to officially accept his party’s nomination.
Trump later said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, that a bullet “pierced the upper part of my right ear.” His campaign reported he was “fine.” He arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport just after midnight Sunday, flanked by his Secret Service detail and heavily armed members of the agency’s counter assault team, and was expected to spend the evening at his private golf club in nearby Bedminster, N.J.
Investigators said Sunday that they had not received any intelligence indicating a possible threat before the attack and they believed there was no ongoing risk of danger to the area. Authorities recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to the Associated Press. And authorities said they found several suspicious packages around the shooter’s body that have slowed down the processing of the crime scene.
“It was a chaotic scene,” said State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens at the news conference. “Law enforcement acted heroically, quickly identifying and neutralizing the threat.”
Chief among the concerns for investigators in the coming days will be how the shooter gained access to the roof of a building near the Butler Farm Show, from which he carried out his attack, Rojek said.
Asked whether law enforcement failed to provide adequate security for the rally, which drew thousands of spectators, Rojek said authorities were still working determine “what, if any, failures there were.”
“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,” he said.
Investigators urged anyone with information on the suspect or the shooting to share it with the FBI by calling 1-800-CALLFBI or fbi.gov/butler.
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Trump hit in ear in 'assassination attempt' at rally
Wire reports
Former President Donald Trump said he was shot in the ear Saturday before he was rushed off stage with blood on his face by Secret Service agents during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in what U.S. Senator Rick Scott called an "assassination attempt."
The Secret Service said Trump “was safe,” but he did appear injured as he was taken to a waiting vehicle.
Two people, including the suspected gunmen, were killed, according to the Butler County district attorney.
The Secret Service killed the shooter, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement posted on X.
"During former President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13th at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue," Guglielmi said in the statement. "US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased. US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated. One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured. The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
Trump in a post on Truth Social said he was shot in the ear.
"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," Trump wrote in the post at 8:42 p.m. "Most important, 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. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. 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 realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
The former president was about 10 minutes into a rally in the commonwealth when loud pops could be heard. Trump reached for his neck and then went down as he was swarmed by Secret Service agents. People in the crowd could be heard screaming.
In a post on X, Scott said “This was clearly an assassination attempt on President Trump. I’m glad he seems okay, and I am praying for him and all who were at the rally.”
Five days before he was slated to accept the GOP nomination for a second term in Milwaukee, Trump remained on the stage for several moments. Agents got him to his feet and he pumped a fist toward the crowd.
Trump appeared to say, “fight” several times as his security detail removed him from the stage. He also could be heard telling agents, “Let me get my shoes” after they helped him to his feet.
What appeared to be Secret Service agents could be heard at one point saying “shooter down.”
Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee said Saturday night the party’s convention in Milwaukee this week will “proceed” after the shooting.
“President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States,” Trump campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley and co-chair Lara Trump said in a statement.
The convention is set to open Monday.
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., sent his thoughts to Trump via a post on social media platform X. “Please join me in praying for President Donald J. Trump and the safety of those at the Trump rally,” he wrote.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said to be on Trump’s running mate shortlist, wrote on X: “Praying for President Trump and all those attending the rally in Pennsylvania today.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “[Casey DeSantis] and I are praying for Donald Trump and his family.”
Senator Marco Rubio posted: “Praying for President Trump and all those attending the rally in Pennsylvania today.”
The White House said President Joe Biden, who at the time was attending a church service in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, had received an “initial briefing” on the incident.
"I have been briefed on the shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania," Biden posted on X at 7;58 p.m. "I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information.
"Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."
During brief remarks Saturday night, Biden said he was waiting for more information before formally designating the shooting an assassination attempt on the former president.
"I have an opinion, but I don't have any facts," he responded to a question.
This breaking news story will be updated.