The gunman responsible for shooting Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday night has been named.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was shot to death by Secret Service snipers shortly after opening fire on the former president at the outdoor event in Butler.
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The packed rally was held on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show, where expanses of open fields are believed to have given Crooks perfect images of Trump.
One audience member was killed in the attack and two seriously injured. The victims have not yet been identified.
Shooter Crooks, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, is said to have positioned himself on the roof of a factory about 200 feet from the cordoned-off rally zone.
He was later shot dead by counter-sniper officers who returned fire from the roof of another nearby building.
Police said they do not yet have a motive for the shooting, but confirmed they considered it an attempted murder.
The FBI said Crooks did not have any identification on him at the time, and authorities identified him through his DNA.
An AR-15 was reportedly recovered near his body.
A spokesperson for the former president released a statement in the early hours of the morning: “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act.
“He is doing well and is being examined at a local medical center. More details will be released.”
Bethel Park is located about 40 miles south of where Saturday’s rally was held in Butler.
What we know so far:
- A gunman opened fire at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, killing one, seriously injuring two others and injuring the former president
- The shooting began during the Republican front-runner’s speech at around 6:15 pm EST on Saturday night.
- The shooter was killed by Secret Service agents
- President Joe Biden condemned the shooting as “sickening” and suspended his campaign for the next two days. He also shared a phone conversation with Donald Trump
- President Trump was rushed to the hospital Saturday night but was later released and left Pennsylvania
- The FBI confirmed it was an “attempted assassination” but said there was no prior threat
- Trump’s team confirmed he will travel to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention next week
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Chaos erupted shortly after 6pm on Saturday when Trump took the stage to address Republican voters.
Minutes later, bullets were heard, and Trump was seen hitting the deck as security personnel surrounded the former president to protect him.
The 2024 hopeful later said he felt a bullet tear through his skin as it pierced the top of his right ear.
He thanked authorities for their quick response to the shooting, offering his condolences to the families of those affected.
“I want to thank the United States Secret Service and all law enforcement agencies for their quick response to the shooting that just occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania,” Trump wrote on Truth Social hours after the shooting.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person who died at the rally and also to the family of another person who was seriously injured.
“It is incredible that such an act could happen in our country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who has since passed away.
“I was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately something was wrong as I heard a buzzing sound, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet tearing through the skin.
“There was a lot of bleeding, then I realized what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
Trump Rally Schedule
Donald Trump was reportedly shot at his rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon.
1 p.m.: Doors open on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show, where Trump was scheduled to speak at 5 p.m.
4:11 pm: Sean Parnell gave the opening speech.
4:35pm: David McCormick rallied the crowd.
5:30 p.m.: Crowds were still waiting for Trump.
6:03 pm: Trump takes the stage.
6:11 p.m.: Shots were fired as Trump made remarks.
6:12 p.m.: Trump was led off stage by Secret Service agents.
6:42 pm: The Secret Service confirmed that Trump is safe.
7:24 p.m.: The shooter and a rally attendee are confirmed dead by police.
8:42 pm: Trump confirms he was shot in the ear, sharing a statement on Truth Social.
8:49 p.m.: The Secret Service confirms that the shooter and a rally attendee are dead. Two others remain seriously injured.
Shocking video has since shown the moment shots were fired as Trump was seen clutching his ear in pain and falling to the ground.
Secret Service agents immediately invaded the stage, forming a human shield around the former president.
Blood was seen dripping from Trump’s right ear as he raised his fist to the crowd before being led away from the stage by federal agents.
An eyewitness claimed to have seen a man with a rifle crawling on the roof of a building near the Trump rally.
Another, an emergency room doctor who attended the rally, told how he performed CPR on a member of the crowd.
Both Republicans and Democrats condemned the brutal attack, with President Joe Biden calling the heinous crime “sickening.”
“There is no place in America for this type of violence,” the president said.
He added that he was relieved that Donald Trump was “doing well.”
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Trump rally security
Donald Trump was reportedly shot at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, June 13.
Trump’s rally was held at the Butler Farm Grounds, which can accommodate tens of thousands of people.
There were 8 to 10 metal detectors on site, according to former USUN ambassador Kip Tom.
Tom told CNN that anyone within a certain distance of the president was required to go through these metal detectors.
Despite being held at an open fairgrounds, the rally was fenced, meaning a perimeter was set up.
Secret Service countersnipers were stationed in the area to monitor the perimeter.
In addition to metal detectors for the public, in addition to local and state police, the Secret Service is assigned to protect the president.
Secret Service agents immediately jumped to cover Trump after he appeared to have been shot.
“We practiced thousands of times for these situations,” Jonathan Wackrow, a former agent, told CNN.
CNN also reported that the Secret Service shot and killed the alleged shooter.
The FBI took over the broader investigation of the shooting, working closely with the Secret Service.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
