(DailyDig.com) – On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to assassinate former President Trump during his speech at his political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to the FBI.
On a rooftop near the rally venue, Crooks fired several rounds before a sniper from the Secret Service returned fire and killed him. According to officials, Crooks fired multiple shots at the rally, killing one attendee and critically injuring others.
A bullet struck the former president’s top right ear. After receiving treatment at a hospital in Pennsylvania, he departed the state in his private plane sometime after midnight.
On the day of the shooting, they recovered a semiautomatic rifle. According to FBI officials, Crooks’ father purchased the rifle, but it’s unclear if he gave it to his son or took it without permission.
An FBI official stated on July 14 that the police called in the bomb squad after receiving reports of suspicious packages in the area. At the rally location, officials found a simple explosive device in Crooks’ car.
That evening, law enforcement arrived to surround the Crooks’ house. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), along with the bomb squad, searched for additional explosives, then cleared the area. According to Special Agent Kevin Rojek, the FBI interviewed the Crooks family after securing the area.
According to FBI officials, Crooks did not have a background in mental health or criminal activities. Officials from law enforcement also stated that they found no written material that could point to a possible motive for the shooting.
Although documentation shows that the shooter had recently registered as a Republican voter, he had made a donation of $15 to a Democrat organization. According to the FBI, an examination of his online activity revealed that he had very few interactions, with little to no posts on social media.
On July 14, Rojek informed reporters that all the information they have gathered thus far demonstrates that Crooks was acting alone in his attempt to assassinate President Trump, and they anticipate no public safety issues.
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