Sources previously reported to American media that the shooter was on a roof. He shot the former president eight times with a semi-automatic rifle, from a roof at a distance of approximately 130 meters. One person in the audience was killed, two were seriously injured. Trump was hit in the ear. He speaks of a “bullet that pierced his right ear”, but there are rumors that it was a wound caused by shards of glass, because the bullet allegedly hit the autocue from which Trump read his texts.
Footage on social media shows the shooter being shot by police on a rooftop.
Registered Republican
Earlier it was announced that the suspected perpetrator was a 20-year-old man from Pennsylvania. Various media outlets quickly named the shooter, and the FBI confirmed his identity. “The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the individual involved in the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania,” it said.
Crooks lived about 30 miles from the meeting site. In 2022, the man graduated from Bethel Park High School. The school has since confirmed that Crooks did indeed attend the school. They are fully cooperating with the investigation. That same year, he received an award and $500 from the National Math and Science Initiative.
According to a list in the Pennsylvania voter database, Crooks was registered as a Republican, which is confirmed by CNNThis year’s presidential election would have been the first in which he was old enough to vote.
Donation
However, Federal Election Commission records show that a donor with the same address, Thomas Crooks, gave $15 to a Democratic-leaning political action committee called Progressive Turnout ProjectThat organization tried to get Democratic voters to the polls during the previous American elections.
According to the Daily Mail, Bethel Park, the area where Crooks lived, is being swarmed by police and members of the Secret Service. The same newspaper also spoke to neighbors of the family, who are described as quiet and “kind of a loner.” Crooks’ father, Matthew, spoke briefly to CNN. “I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on. I’m going to talk to the police first before I say anything.” According to the AP, police believe the weapon used in the attack was purchased by Matthew. The father is said to have purchased a weapon more than six months ago. Explosives were also found in the man’s car. His car was parked near the Trump rally, which took place yesterday.
Some right-wing media claimed that the perpetrator was a member of the anti-fascist movement Antifa, but there is no evidence for this and it seems unlikely. A lot of false information about the incident is circulating on social media. According to NBC News The shooter is said to have been wearing a T-shirt during the attack that is “associated with one of the most popular YouTube gun channels.” According to Pennsylvania public court records, Crooks has no criminal record.