Law enforcement authorities identified the gunman who attempted to assassinate disgraced former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The FBI identified the shooter, who is dead, as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A motive was not clear.
Crooks was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about an hour south of Butler.
He was killed by a Secret Service sniper at the rally, officials said.
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” said a statement from the agency.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI,” the statement said.
“We do not currently have an identified motive,” said Kevin Rojek, FBI Pittsburgh special agent in charge, at a briefing Saturday night
Crooks was 17 years old when he made a $15 donation to ActBlue on January 20, 2021—Biden’s inauguration day—and then 8 months later he registered as a Republican in September 2021.
Democratic Party leaders have said that political violence has no place in the United States.
Republicans have immediately used the shooting to seek political advantages.
GOP Congressman Mike Collins posted a lie on social media falsely asserting, “Joe Biden sent the orders.”
Collins also claims, “I’m pro-Trump, pro-life and will protect our Second Amendment right.”
“Our right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right that ‘shall not be infringed,’ spelled out in the United States Constitution. Our Founding Fathers did not have sportsmen or hunting in mind when they wrote this. Their intent was to protect citizens from a tyrannical government,” said Collins. “I support Constitutional Carry and will oppose any legislation or bureaucratic effort that undermines our Constitutional right to keep and bear firearms.”