The Newz Radar Network
The shooter involved in the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump has been identified by the FBI as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park in Pennsylvania who graduated in 2022 from Bethel Park High School.
The shocking incident occurred just two days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is set to be formally nominated as the party’s candidate.
According to a statement from the US Secret Service, Crooks “fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside the rally” before being “neutralised” by agents. The agents quickly rushed Trump off the stage even as blood streaked across his face after the shooting.
He was a highly regarded student, having received a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative for his excellence in science and mathematics, as reported by a media outlet in Pennsylvania. Voter-registration records indicated that Crooks was registered as a Republican.
Armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, Crooks positioned himself on the roof of a building about 130 yards away from the stage where Trump was addressing the rally. Multiple witnesses reported seeing him before the shooting and alerted the authorities. Despite the rapid response, the shooter managed to fire several shots before being fatally shot by Secret Service officials.
The motive behind Crooks’ attack on the 78-year-old former PRESIDENT remains unclear. The FBI continues to investigate the incident, attempting to piece together the reasons behind this dramatic and violent act.
