Donald Trump, the ex-president, sustained injuries on Saturday night while addressing the crowd at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Authorities are looking into the incident as a possible assassination attempt, as the shooter was positioned on a nearby roof.
During his rally speech, Trump was positioned facing right with his hands on the lectern when multiple gunshots were heard at around 6:15 p.m. ET. Subsequently, he mentioned on social media that he had been shot in the ear.
Trump clutched his right ear and fell to the floor upon Secret Service agents’ command to take cover, swiftly moving to shield the ex-president as additional gunshots rang out.
As Trump stayed down, a final burst of gunfire echoed through the venue, causing panic among the attendees. Approximately 45 seconds later, security personnel announced over the rally’s speakers, “The shooter has been neutralized.”
The security agents were ready to escort Trump to his waiting SUV, but he gestured for them to hold off. Raising his fist in the air, Trump incited a boisterous cheer from the rally attendees, mouthing the word “fight” repeatedly as he pumped his fist. The crowd responded with chants of “USA!” as the ex-president was escorted down the stairs by a group of agents and ushered into his vehicle.
A rally participant lost their life in the shooting incident, while two others were severely wounded, as reported by the Secret Service. The FBI confirmed that all the individuals affected were male.
The recent incident that endangered Trump’s life has sparked serious concerns regarding security measures and the attempted assassination of the ex-president, prompting lawmakers to demand an inquiry into the Secret Service’s response during Saturday’s rally. This assassination attempt occurred just before Trump is scheduled to officially accept the 2024 presidential nomination at the upcoming Republican National Convention.
President Joe Biden expressed his strong disapproval of the shooting, describing it as “sick,” during his remarks from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Saturday evening. The White House also confirmed that he had a phone conversation with Trump later on.
Initial information about the suspect
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified Thomas Matthew Crooks (20 years old, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania) as the suspect in the plot to assassinate former US President Donald Trump on July 13.
The suspect was shot and killed by the US Secret Service just a few seconds after he opened fire towards the stage where Mr. Trump was speaking.
The FBI said the agency is determining the basis of the attack that killed a participant in Mr. Trump’s last campaign and seriously injured two other martial artists. Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear.
According to Pennsylvania voter records, Crooks is registered to vote as a Republican. The election on May 11 will mark the first time Crooks is old enough to vote for president.
According to a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing, when he was 17, Crooks donated $15 to ActBlue, a measure that grants political money to Democratic and left-wing politicians. .
Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks (53), told CNN he was trying to figure out what happened and waited until he was contacted by law enforcement before talking about his son.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Thomas Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and received a $500 “star award” from the National Science and Mathematics Initiative.
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