Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
After former President Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt Saturday at a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where one rally attendee was killed and two others were left in critical condition , the FBI has identified the shooter armed with a rifle as a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, a Pittsburgh suburb.
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State records show that Thomas Matthew Crooks was registered as a Republican in Allegheny County, but Law&Crime can also confirm that Crooks donated $15 to the Progressive Turnout Project through ActBlue on the day Joe Biden was inaugurated as president in 2021.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was a registered Republican, according to Pennsylvania records.
As of 2021, Crooks was listed as not employed.
Thomas Crooks’ donation to Progressive Turnout Project (FEC records)
The Pennsylvania voter information and the FEC donation data show the same Milford Drive address for Crooks in Bethel Park, a street that authorities swarmed in the aftermath of the shooting on Saturday night as part of a bomb investigation .
Local reports say that Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School as recently as 2022.
KDKA’s Meghan Schiller reported a statement from the Bethel Park School District confirming that Crooks graduated two years ago.
“The school district wishes to express its sincere wishes for a speedy and full recovery for Mr. Trump and for those in attendance at the Saturday event who may have been physically harmed or emotionally impacted by these tragic events,” the reported statement said. “We offer special condolences to the family of at least one attendee who was killed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.”
Sign up for the Law&Crime Daily Newsletter for more breaking news and updates The district also said if would “cooperate fully with the active law enforcement investigation.”
Schiller also reported that the shooter’s ex-classmates recalled him being bullied and wearing “hunting” clothes to school.
TMZ obtained video of the shooter on a rooftop as he opened fire .
The attempted Trump assassin aiming a rifle from a rooftop seconds before he was taken out (TMZ/screengrab)
During the video, you can hear the screams of horrified onlookers and the sounds of multiple gunshots. In a matter of seconds, what sounds like return sniper fire from the Secret Service took the shooter out.
“He’s down,” one witness can be heard saying repeatedly.
After the shooting, Trump said on Truth Social that “it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.”
“We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families,” he said. “We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
He also credited the Secret Service and all law enforcement on scene for a “rapid response.” There will doubtless be investigations in the coming days and weeks as to the Secret Service’s security preparations for the event.
The Trump campaign has also “authorized” a GoFundMe fundraiser for the shooting and their families. More than $700,000 has been donated as of Sunday morning.
Officials have since announced that former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company chief Corey Comperatore was killed while protecting his family from the gunfire.
The post Trump was this close to being assassinated at a campaign rally — now the FBI has identified the shooter first appeared on Law & Crime .
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