Shooter at Donald Trump Rally Identified as 20-Year-Old Pennsylvania Man

Shots rang out at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13

Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with what appears to be blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024.
Photo:

Rebecca DROKE / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty

Authorities have identified a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man as the suspect who opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Butler County, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, in what authorities have said was an assassination attempt.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania was identified by the FBI as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of the former president. The FBI said the investigation into the incident remains "active and ongoing."

The Secret Service announced after the shooting that the shooter was declared deceased after being neutralized by authorities. One person at the rally was killed and two were critically injured.

According to The New York Times, Crooks did not have a criminal history documented in Pennsylvania's public court records. The outlet reported that officials said they had not identified a motive. Crooks' voter registration record indicates that he was registered as a Republican, and federal campaign-finance records show that Crooks donated $15 to a liberal voter turnout organization, per the outlet.

Bethel Park High School 2020 yearbook photo of Thomas Crooks as seen on Sunday July 14, 2024 in Bethel Park, PA. Cooks was named as the alledged shooter at former President Donald Trump's Saturday rally.
Thomas Crooks.

Courtesy Photo/Getty

Trump was giving a campaign speech at the rally on Saturday when shots rang out. He was "grazed" by gunfire at the rally, Richard Goldinger, the District Attorney of Butler County told PEOPLE on Saturday.

In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump wrote, in part, "Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA."

In videos of the incident shared on social media, the former president is seen turning toward the noise before briefly grabbing his ear.

The Secret Service said Trump was safe and was being evaluated.

President Joe Biden, along with former presidents Barack ObamaGeorge W. Bush and Bill Clinton, have condemned the shooting.

Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is asked to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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