THE FBI has identified the shooter in the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Pennsylvania, US media reported.
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject in the assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the FBI said in a statement.
The motive was not clear.
The gunman was immediately “neutralised” by the Secret Service, chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi said.
Sources said the attacker was on the roof of a manufacturing plant about 130 yards away from the stage where Trump was addressing a rally on the Butler Farm Show grounds.
Trump was shot in the right ear. After the incident, he gave his account of what happened.
After the shooting, Trump said, “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 realised then what was happening,” he said on Truth Social.
The former US President extended his condolences to the family of a rally-goer who was killed and expressed gratitude to law enforcement officials for their response. – July 14, 2024.
