The FBI has identified Thomas Mathew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. He is believed to be the suspect in the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump at his company rally last Saturday.
Seconds after allegedly firing shots toward the stage where Trump was speaking in Butler, Pennsylvania. The suspect was shot and killed by the Secret Service on the scene.
The FBI is investigating to determine the motive behind the attack, which resulted in the death of one rally attendee and critically injured two other spectators. Trump sustained a gunshot wound to the ear.
It is noted that voter records indicate Crooks was a registered Republican. The upcoming November 5 election would have marked Crook’s first opportunity to vote in a presidential race, as he recently became eligible.
Crooks resided for approximately an hour away from the shooting site in Butler. On Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced the closure of airspace over Bethel Park for ” special security reasons.”
At the age of 17, Crooks made a $15 donation to ActBlue, a political action committee that supports left-leaning and Democratic candidates, according to a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing. The donation was designated for the Progressive Turnout Project. A national organization that mobilizes Democrats to vote, neither organization responded immediately to a Reuters request for comment.
Mathew Crooks, 53, the father of Thomas Crooks, informed CNN that he was seeking to understand the events and would defer comment until he had spoken with law enforcement.
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Thomas Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. He was recognized with a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative, as reported by the newspaper.
The New York Times referenced a video from the 2022 graduation ceremony showing Crooks receiving his diploma amid applause. A video from the ceremony shows Crooks in glasses and a black graduation gown. It was posted online, though Reuters was unable to immediately verify its authenticity.
Law enforcement officials stated on Saturday that Crooks had no identification on him at the shooting site and had to be identified using alternate methods.
“We’re currently examining photographs and attempting to confirm his identity through DNA and biometrics,” said Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge, during a press briefing.
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According to USA Today, numerous law enforcement vehicles were stationed outside a residence listed in Crooks’ voter registration record. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were present, and a bomb squad was reportedly at the residence.
The perimeter of the suspect’s residence was cordoned off on Sunday with yellow police caution tape, with an Allegheny County Police vehicle Parked outside.
“It’s insane that anyone would do this,” said Dan Maloney, a 30-year-old resident, as quoted by USA Today.
Reuters was unable to locate any social media account or other online posts attributed to Crooks. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, did not respond immediately to queries regarding whether any related accounts had been removed from their platforms.
