Authorities have confirmed that the gunman involved in the attack against former US President Donald Trump has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. The incident took place on Saturday during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
According to the FBI statement released early Sunday morning, Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was fatally shot by Secret Service agents at the scene after the shooting occurred. Bethel Park is located approximately 35 miles south of Butler, where the rally was being held.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022, as reported by local media sources and a video of the school's commencement ceremony. Records from Pennsylvania's voter database indicate that he was registered as a Republican voter. This year's presidential election would have been the first in which he was eligible to vote.
Further investigation revealed that a donor named Thomas Crooks, residing at the same address in Bethel Park, contributed $15 to a Democratic-aligned political action committee called the Progressive Turnout Project in January 2021, as per Federal Election Commission records.
When contacted late Saturday night, Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, expressed shock and confusion about the situation. He stated that he was trying to understand the events and would refrain from making any comments until he had spoken with law enforcement officials.
The incident has raised concerns and sparked discussions about security measures at public events involving high-profile figures. Investigations are ongoing to determine the motives behind the attack and any potential accomplices.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, authorities are urging for calm and cooperation as they work to piece together the details surrounding the attack on former President Trump.
