Shooter in Donald Trump's assassination attempt identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, from Pennsylvania

Donald Trump was shot in the top of his right ear which ended up piercing it
UPDATED JUL 14, 2024
Donald Trump's shooter during the Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, July 13, has been identified as a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, @WallStreetSilv/X)
Donald Trump's shooter during the Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, July 13, has been identified as a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images, @WallStreetSilv/X)

Trigger Warning: This article contains some graphic information and content that may trigger some readers. Discretion is advised.

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA: Donald Trump's shooter during the Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, July 13, has been identified as a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks.

During the rally, Trump was shot in the top of his right ear which ended up piercing it. The Secret Service officials quickly surrounded him as the snipers took down the shooter minutes later, according to the New York Post.

Authorities investigate assassination attempt on Donald Trump

According to sources, Matthew Crooks was positioned over 130 yards from the stage at the Butler Farm Show grounds, atop the roof of a manufacturing facility.

Notably, Secret Service snipers fatally shot him. Later, an AR-style weapon was discovered. The reason behind Crooks' attempt to kill the likely Republican presidential nominee remains unclear.



 

Late on Saturday, Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office stated, "Tonight we had what we’re calling an assassination attempt on our former president, Donald Trump." He further noted, "We do not currently have an identified motive."

According to Rojek, there were no specific threats made prior to the shooting.

Eyewitness accounts from Pennsylvania rally shooting

At the time the shots were fired, Chet Jack, a former Butler County Republican chairman and member of the state Republican Party, was sitting in the bleachers with his spouse, Beth, facing Trump, as per the Associated Press.

(Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Donald Trump was shot at the top of his right ear during a Pennsylvania Rally on July 13 (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

After hearing the gunfire, Beth hid and briefly felt relieved that it was over. However, she soon heard additional shots, which she believed might have been aimed at the gunman.

Beth said, "I couldn’t see what happened with President Trump, because the minute I heard a shot, I yelled, ‘Everybody get down!’ I knew that was a shot."

The couple reported that they were just 10 yards away from a man who had been shot in the stands. She said, "Right after he was shot, everyone started screaming, ‘Medic!’ It was overwhelming because so many people were down, and while you’re terrified, you want to know that he’s okay. But they got someone there right away."

For cover for first story : Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage by U.S. Secret Service agents after being grazed by a bullet during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Butler County district attorney Richard Goldinger said the shooter is dead after injuring former U.S. President Donald Trump, killing one audience member and injuring another in the shooting. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Donald Trump's shooter was reportedly taken down by the Secret Service snipers (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Chet added, "There was a lot of blood." 

Chet said he remained alert and looked for the gunman while Beth and the crowd took cover. He believed the gunshots were coming from above and felt that ducking wouldn’t provide him any protection.

He said, "You can’t let these guys — these maniacs — terrify you."

Meanwhile, Trump expressed his appreciation on social media for the "rapid response" of the US Secret Service and law enforcement. He also extended his condolences "to the family of the person killed at the rally, as well as to the family of another individual who was seriously injured."

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