(RepublicanReport.org) – On July 13, former President Donald Trump was holding a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when shots rang out. A man was reportedly situated on a rooftop less than 150 meters away with an AR-15-style rifle and fired shots toward the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. Secret Service shot and killed the suspect before he could be questioned. In addition to an injury to Trump’s ear, one spectator was killed, and two others were critically injured.
Sources reported that the suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania — about 200 miles outside of Butler. He was a registered Republican, and the motive for his alleged actions is still unknown. However, authorities believe he acted alone. Crooks reportedly had no apparent mental health issues, and the FBI said he was virtually unknown to the agency prior to the incident. It’s possible that the suspect donated $15 to a Democratic fundraising organization in 2021 when the suspect would’ve been 17. However, a spokesperson for the group said the email associated with the donation “unsubscribed from [its] lists 2 years ago.”
Crooks reportedly used a weapon that was registered to his father, and sources say the suspect stopped to buy 50 rounds of ammunition on the way to the rally. The 20-year-old was apparently a rifle enthusiast who was on his high school’s rifle team but “left after the first day” because he was a bad shot. The coach also said he had concerns about the types of jokes Crooks was making and his interactions with his peers.
After his examination by medical professionals, Trump released a statement on social media stating he “heard a whizzing sound” and “felt the bullet ripping through the skin.” He thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement and sent his “condolences to the family of the person” killed that day and those who were injured. It’s unclear if the incident will have any impact on the election polls.
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