Former U.S. President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania. The FBI has identified the suspect as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The Incident
The attack took place while Trump was addressing a crowd in Butler, a crucial swing state for the upcoming election. Secret Service agents quickly responded to the threat, whisking the former president off stage and into a waiting vehicle. Trump was subsequently transported to a local medical center for treatment before returning to his residence in New Jersey.
In a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump detailed the harrowing moment a bullet grazed the “upper part” of his right ear. “I knew immediately that something was wrong when I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump wrote. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
The FBI’s Response
The FBI has classified the shooting as an assassination attempt, according to Special Agent Kevin Rojek. The agency is conducting an active and ongoing investigation into the incident. Crooks, who was armed with a rifle, was shot dead at the scene by Secret Service officers. Additionally, one bystander was killed, and two others were critically injured during the shooting.
Law enforcement officials are working to establish a motive for the attack. Crooks was not carrying identification, and investigators are relying on DNA analysis to confirm his identity.
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses at the rally described the chaos and fear that ensued as shots rang out. Greg, an attendee, recounted spotting a suspicious individual “bear crawling” on the roof of a nearby building. “He had a rifle, we could clearly see him with a rifle,” Greg said. Despite pointing the suspect out to the police, it took some time for the authorities to respond.
Another witness, Tim, described hearing a “barrage” of shots and initially mistaking the noise for a fire hose. “Something must have hit the hydraulic lines [which caused the speaker to fall]. We saw President Trump go to the ground and everyone started dropping to the ground because it was chaos,” he said.
Warren and Debbie, also present at the rally, heard at least four gunshots. They described the scene as Secret Service agents rushed through the crowd, urging attendees to get down.
Security Measures and Aftermath
Following the incident, Pennsylvania police assured the public that there were no further threats. The rally, however, ended in tragedy with the loss of an innocent bystander’s life and critical injuries to two others.
The FBI’s investigation continues as they seek to understand the motives behind this brazen attack. The incident has underscored the ongoing threats faced by public figures and the critical importance of robust security measures at political events.
