The FBI has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the suspect in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally. Crooks was shot and killed by the Secret Service after allegedly firing shots toward Trump on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump sustained a gunshot wound to the ear, while one rally attendee died and two others were critically injured.

The FBI is investigating to determine the motive behind the attack. Crooks was a registered Republican, and the upcoming November 5 election would have been his first opportunity to vote in a presidential race. Despite this, a 2021 Federal Election Commission filing shows Crooks donated $15 to ActBlue, a political action committee supporting Democratic candidates.

Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, is awaiting further information from law enforcement before commenting. In Bethel Park, law enforcement has cordoned off the streets around the Crooks' residence. Neighbors, like Mary and Stanley Priselac, expressed shock and dismay over the incident, describing their neighborhood as typically quiet and trouble-free.

Thomas Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022 and was recognized with a $500 award from the National Math and Science Initiative. The Bethel Park School District has stated it will fully cooperate with the investigation but has limited its public disclosures.

FBI special agent Kevin Rojek mentioned that Crooks carried no identification and was identified through other methods, including DNA and biometric confirmation. Social media companies have yet to confirm if any accounts related to Crooks have been removed. The investigation is ongoing.