Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump
Former U.S. president Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Saturday, July 13th, just after 6 p.m. local time during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump, the Republican candidate for the November 5th presidential election, was shot in the ear by a gunman. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed in a statement that the shooter had fired several shots towards the stage from a high position outside the gathering before being shot dead. It was reported that he was positioned on the roof of a company hangar located about 120 meters from the stage where Trump was speaking. The gunman was armed with a semi-automatic AR15 rifle and, in addition to lightly injuring the ex-president, he killed one man attending the rally and seriously injured two others, according to police.
Identification of the Shooter
The shooter was identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about 70 kilometers south of Butler. Authorities have not released further information about him, stating that the investigation is ongoing. Crooks had no prior criminal record, was registered as a Republican voter, and reportedly made a donation of $15 to ActBlue, a Democratic political action committee, when he was 17 years old. Media reports also shared a video of his high school graduation ceremony in 2022, showing a slim young man in glasses receiving his diploma.
Father’s Response
Matthew Crooks, the shooter’s 53-year-old father, has been the only family member to comment publicly. He mentioned that he would speak with law enforcement before making any further statements about his son. The investigation continues, as authorities seek to determine the motives behind the assassination attempt.
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