United States: The enigmatic figure who attempted the assassination of ex-President Donald Trump during his campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night has been unveiled.
The would-be assassin, identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, had scant details released by the authorities.
His father, Matthew Crooks, conveyed to CNN his bewilderment, expressing a need to consult law enforcement before making any statements. “This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” the FBI emphasized in a Sunday communiqué, according to some reports.
This episode marks the gravest threat to a US president or candidate since the 1981 shooting of Ronald Reagan, who was attacked while heading to his motorcade post-speech in Washington, DC.
The assailant in the 1981 incident was John Hinckley Jr.
Following the March 1981 attack, Reagan recuperated. His press secretary, James Brady, however, sustained injuries leading to partial paralysis.
The FBI noted that Crooks appeared to have no criminal history within Pennsylvania’s public court records. Authorities are yet to ascertain a motive.
Reportedly, law enforcement sources disclosed to CBS News that Crooks was armed with an “AR-style rifle.”
According to an FBI statement:
“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.”
Special Agent Kevin Rojek, leading the investigation, mentioned that Crooks had been identified via DNA since he lacked identification.
Records from the Federal Election Commission viewed by Reuters revealed that at 17, Crooks had donated USD 15 to ActBlue, a PAC supporting Democratic and left-leaning politicians. The Progressive Turnout Project, a national organization mobilizing Democratic voters, received the donation, as per reports.
When he made the donation, Crooks was 17, and he turned 18 in September of the same year. New York Post documents indicate he registered as a Republican voter.
State voter records confirmed Crooks’ Republican registration. The upcoming November 5 election would have been his first presidential vote as an eligible voter.
Lt. Col. George Bevins of the Pennsylvania State Police informed NBC regarding the shooter’s motives, “It’s too soon to determine that. We have provisionally identified one shooter, but our investigation is ongoing. We are following multiple leads, and it will be some time before we can definitively state if it was the act of a single gunman.”
The US Secret Service agents neutralized the suspect on the spot, reported agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. He noted that two bystanders suffered severe injuries, and one bystander succumbed to their wounds in the altercation.