FBI Identifies Suspect as 20-Year-Old Thomas Matthew Crooks
In a dramatic turn of events, former US President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania. The FBI has named the suspect as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The incident has left many in shock and has sparked an extensive investigation.
As Trump addressed his supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania, shots rang out, prompting Secret Service agents to rush the former president off the stage and into a secure vehicle. Trump was quickly transported to New Jersey and returned home safely. The FBI has officially declared the incident an assassination attempt.
On his Social network, Trump revealed that a bullet grazed the upper part of his right ear.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong. I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and then felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he wrote. “Much bleeding took place, so I realized what was happening.”
Thomas Matthew Crooks reportedly armed himself with a rifle and fired from an elevated position outside the rally venue. Law enforcement sources informed CBS News that Crooks had no identification on him, and investigators are using DNA to confirm his identity. Tragically, the suspect was shot dead by Secret Service officers at the scene, and the incident resulted in the death of one bystander and critical injuries to two others.
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Pennsylvania police have assured the public that there are no further threats following the shooting while FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and agents are still working to establish a motive for the attempted assassination.
Witnesses describe that the supporters ducked and sought cover while Trump was speaking about President Joe Biden and his administration. Some attendees spotted a suspicious individual on a nearby rooftop, armed with a rifle. Despite their attempts to alert the police, the gunman was able to carry out the attack.
The rally, held in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, was a significant event for Trump’s presidential campaign. Politicians from both parties condemned the attack. President Biden called the violence “sick” and emphasized that “there’s no place in America for this kind of violence.” Former PresidObama and Jeffries stressed that political violence has no place in democracy.
World reacts to Trump’s assassination attempt
Trump assassination attempt have sparked outrage in the international community. They also expressed their horror including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who later issued statements denouncing the violence.
In the aftermath, some Republicans blamed President Biden’s rhetoric for inciting the attack. Senator JD Vance and Congressman Mike Collins accused Biden of stoking fears about Trump’s potential return to office. Meanwhile, House oversight committee chair James Comer announced plans to summon the director of the Secret Service for questioning.
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