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The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the suspect in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Crooks, from Bethel Park, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after allegedly firing at Trump. Trump was grazed by a bullet but was unharmed. He expressed gratitude for the support received and offered condolences to the family of a rally attendee, Corey Comperatore, who was killed by Crooks.
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and had a mixed political background, he registered as a Republican but had previously donated to a Democratic cause. President Biden ordered a review of the security breach that allowed Crooks to get close enough to fire at Trump.
Authorities found bomb-making materials in Crooks’ car and confirmed that the AR-15-style rifle he used was legally purchased by his father. The motive for the attack remains unclear, with both political parties seeking to distance themselves from the extremism implied by the incident. Residents of Bethel Park expressed shock at the news, reflecting on the current tense political climate.