THOMAS MATTHEW CROOKS: US security service fingers suspect in Donald Trump shooting
The FBI has now named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the gunman involved in the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI,” it said in a statement.
Crooks was first named by the New York Post in an exclusive report. He was planted on the roof of a manufacturing plant more than 118 metres away from the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds, where Trump was giving his speech. An AR-style rifle was recovered from him, according to The Post report.
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Public records show that Crooks was registered to vote as a Republican, but made a small donation to a Democratic-aligned group in 2021, reports CNN.
An eyewitness, in an interview with the BBC, said he saw a man armed with a rifle crawling up a roof near the event. The person said he and the people he was with started pointing at the man, trying to alert security.
The FBI official also said that they are not yet sure of the motive behind the assassination attempt. “We do not currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” he said.
Rojek added that it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire multiple shots during the rally. “We’re still working through the security apparatus that the Secret Service had in place, what potentially happened,” he added, according to a report in CNN.
“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, what type of weapon he had. All that is really days, weeks, and months of investigation,” he added.
How was the suspect killed?
As soon as shots were fired at Trump, snipers and Secret Service agents sprang into action.
Secret Service officials heard the gunshots and swarmed onto the podium surrounding the former president and escorted him off stage.
Two armed officials reportedly aimed at the gunman minutes after he fired the shots. He was later captured and neutralised by the Security Service officials.
