A Pennsylvania rally for former President Donald Trump was abruptly disrupted by a shooting incident, marking a shocking attempt on Trump’s life. As Trump addressed a large crowd, a barrage of gunfire erupted, causing widespread panic and prompting an immediate response from security personnel.
Driving the news
Driving the news
Thomas Matthew Crooks , a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania, attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally on Saturday.- Crooks, armed with an AR-style rifle, grazed Trump and fatally wounded a Trump supporter before being killed by Secret Service agents at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
- Crooks fired from a rooftop 150 yards from the stage where Trump was speaking. His AR-15-style rifle, purchased by his father, resulted in the death of a 50-year-old man and critically wounded two other spectators. The incident has further inflamed the political divide in the US.
Why it matters
- What sets Crooks apart from other recent shooters who have targeted schools, churches, malls, and parades is that he came within inches of assassinating a presidential candidate.
- The assassination attempt underscores ongoing security concerns for political figures, especially in a highly polarized environment.
- It also raises questions about how individuals with known warning signs can still pose significant threats.
Catch up quick
- Crooks, a resident of Bethel Park, was a registered Republican who would have been eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential election. He worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home, where his background check had been clean.
- Marcie Grimm, nursing home administrator: “We are shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement as Thomas Matthew Crooks performed his job without concern and his background check was clean.”
- As per a New York Post report, Crooks had a history of poor shooting skills and inappropriate behavior. He was rejected from his high school rifle team due to his poor aim and off-color jokes. Former classmates described him as a loner who often wore hunting outfits to class and made concerning comments.
- Jameson Murphy, former classmate: “He was such a comically bad shot he was unable to make the team and left after the first day.”
- Another former classmate: “He couldn’t shoot at all. He was a terrible shot.”
- Explosives, including an IED, were discovered inside a car driven by Thomas Matthew Crooks, which was parked near the scene of the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sources confirmed to Fox News.
- While the sources did not specify the number or types of explosives, they emphasized that multiple devices were found.
- Additionally, law enforcement found bomb-making materials at Crooks’ residence, according to the sources.
What they’re saying
- Crooks’ high school counselor and classmates were surprised by his actions, noting he showed no particular interest in politics and had never been disciplined in school.
- High school counselor Jim Knapp: Crooks was “quiet as a churchmouse,” “respectful,” and kept to himself.
- Unnamed classmate: “He was super smart. That’s what really kind of threw me off was, this was, like, a really, really smart kid, like he excelled. Nothing crazy ever came up in any conversation.”
What next
- The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
- Authorities are piecing together Crooks’ background and motivations, as well as examining security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
- The FBI confirmed that Crooks acted alone and are continuing to investigate his social media and personal history for further clues.
- Crooks’ social media profile does not contain threatening language, nor have they found any history of mental health issues, the FBI said.
(With inputs from agencies)