FBI identifies Trump rally shooting suspect
The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, as the suspect in the assassination attempt of former President Trump.
The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from western Pennsylvania, as the person who attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Crooks reportedly shot Trump from a rooftop perch some 130 yards away during a rally in the small town, striking the upper part of Trump’s right ear while the former president was speaking to rallygoers ahead of next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Authorities approach the suspected gunman from where he fell after the U.S. Secret Service returned fire following an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
One attendee, Corey Comperatore, 50, a former fire chief of Buffalo Township, was killed, and two others – identified by Pennsylvania State Police as David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74 – were injured during the incident.
The FBI confirmed that Crooks was shot dead.
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON TRUMP AT PENNSYLVANIA RALLY LEAVES 2 HURT, 2 DEAD, INCLUDING SHOOTER
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, is the shooter accused of attempting to assassinate former President Trump during a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
"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," the FBI said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "This remains an active and ongoing investigation."
Crooks, 20, was from Bethel Park, which is a Pittsburgh suburb about an hour south from where the assassination attempt took place.
People who attended former President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, described to Fox News the chaos that ensued following an attempted assassination of the former president. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/jake Rosen/Fox News)
Further investigation revealed that Crooks also had a membership at the nearby Clairton Sportsmen's Club for at least a year, according to a statement sent to Fox News from the gun club's attorney, Rob Bootay.
"In response to your email inquiry I can confirm that Mr. Crooks was a member of Clairton Sportsmen's Club. Beyond that, the Club is unable to make any additional commentary in relation to this matter in light of pending law enforcement investigations. Obviously, the Club fully admonishes the senseless act of violence that occurred yesterday. The Club also offers its sincerest condolences to the Comperatore family and extends prayers to all of those injured including the former President," Rob Bootay, Clairton Sportmen's Club attorney
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. He was one of nearly two dozen students from the school to earn a $500 "star award" from the National Math and Science Initiative.
An online recording of his graduation ceremony shows him walking the stage to minimal applause and briefly posing with a school official, the New York Times reported.
SUSPECTED TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT SHINES LIGHT ON RALLY SECURITY
A search by Fox News Digital revealed that Crooks would have turned 21 years old this September. He had no reported criminal or traffic citations and no reported bankruptcies, liens or foreclosures.
Crooks was a registered Republican, according to voting records, but he only participated in the Nov. 8, 2022, state election, due to his age. Records show that he made a $15 donation to Progressive Turnout Project, a Chicago-based political action committee that supports Democrat candidates for public office and claims to advocate for "key Democratic constituencies: young people, minorities and low-income people."
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The FBI said it will continue its investigation into Crooks and any other information it can obtain.
"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," the statement continued.
Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.
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