- The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the man who shot Donald Trump.
- Crooks was a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pa., and was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
- Crooks was a registered Republican. His motive for shooting Trump remains unclear.
The FBI has identified the man who shot former President Donald Trump as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old man from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents after he fired from an “elevated position” toward Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Trump said he was hit above the ear, but his campaign said the president was “fine.” A bystander at the rally was killed in the assassination attempt.
Here’s the latest on Crooks:
July 14, 2:12 p.m.: Biden warns against assuming motives
During a brief press conference from the White House, President Joe Biden said investigators had not determined Crooks’ motive.
““I urge everyone, please: don’t make assumptions about his motives or affiliations,” Biden said. “Let the FBI do its job.”
Biden said he had ordered a “thorough and expeditious” investigation into the shooting.
The president said he would speak further in a prime-time address Sunday night.
July 14, 12 noon: Explosives found: reports
The Wall Street Journal cited anonymous sources briefed on the case as saying authorities later found an explosive device in Crooks’ car, which he drove to the rally and parked nearby.
Police received reports of a suspicious package in the area around the shooter, and bomb technicians were dispatched to the scene, according to The Journal.
Law enforcement also found bomb-making materials at Crooks’ home, according to The Associated Press.
The FBI told Business Insider that the investigation into the shooting was ongoing. As of Sunday morning, investigators had not determined Crooks’ motive.
July 14, 10 a.m.: AR-style rifle reportedly used in the shooting
Law enforcement found an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle near Crooks’ body, according to The New York Times.
Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that investigators believe the gun was purchased by Crooks’ father.
Who is Thomas Matthew Crooks?
Voting records show Crooks is registered as a Republican.
According to online Pennsylvania court records, Crooks did not appear to have a criminal record prior to the shooting.
Federal Election Commission Notes revealed that someone matching Crooks’ name and address made a $15 donation in January 2021 to the Progressive Turnout Project through ActBlue, a platform that raises funds for political candidates.
The upcoming election in November will be the first time Crooks is old enough to vote in a presidential election.
It is not clear what motivated him to shoot the former president.
The Bethel Park School District in Pennsylvania confirmed in a statement seen by local media that Crooks had graduated from Bethel Park High in 2022.
“Our school district will fully cooperate with the active law enforcement investigation regarding this matter,” the statement read.
According to local media outlet Triblive, Crooks has received a $500 “star award” from the National Math and Science Initiative.
According to a report from USA Today, dozens of law enforcement vehicles were stationed outside the address listed on Crooks’ voter registration records as of Sunday morning. The road leading to the house was blocked off.
According to the outlet, officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene. A bomb squad was also present.
The Crooks’ residence is about an hour’s drive south of Butler.
Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, 53, told CNN he was trying to find out “what really happened” and would wait until he spoke to law enforcement before speaking about his son.
