The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during his rally on July 13.
The identification was made the morning of July 14. During a press conference just hours prior, the agency had declined to identify the suspect and his motive, but said the former president was the target of an assassination attempt.
“This evening we had what we’re calling an assassination attempt against our former President Donald Trump,” Kevin Rojek, who serves as Special Agent in Charge at the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, said during the press conference.
Mr. Rojek had declined identifying the suspect at that time, stating that the agency was close to confirming identification with a DNA test. “As soon as we are 100 percent confident in who that individual is, we will share it with the press,” he said.
He added that the agency did not have an “identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to identify what that motive was.”
Authorities said three adult men other than the president were victimized, including one who was killed and two who were critically injured. The shooter was killed at the scene.
Mr. Rojek was joined by Colonel Christopher Paris of the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col George Bivens. The U.S. Secret Service, Mr. Rojek said, was not available for the press conference.
Secret Service
Questions remained after the press conference as authorities referred many of the questions they received to the U.S. Secret Service, which Mr. Bivens said takes the lead on security for events like the rally that took place on July 13.According to Mr. Rojek, the shooter was on top of a building that was outside of the Secret Service’s security perimeter. When asked why that was the case, he responded: “The Secret Service really needs to answer that question. They conduct the initial site survey. They do the initial security assessments and determine where the different security locations should be.”
The FBI has said it will be leading the federal investigation into the shooting. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said state authorities will investigate the incident as it relates to the other victims.
“I would just like to say that the state police have been in regular contact with the governor’s office and the full support and assets of the entire agency are behind the FBI and our other federal and municipal partners to assist with this investigation ... We are prepared to support this investigation in any way shape or form,” Mr. Paris said.
Mr. Rojek and Mr. Bivans indicated that investigators had a long road ahead of them.
“There’s going to be a long investigation into exactly what took place and how the individual was able to get access to the location, what type of weapon he had—all that is really days, weeks, and months of investigation,” Mr. Rojek said.
“It is surprising,” he added, when asked whether it was surprising how many shots the shooters was able to fire.
Mr. Bivans said, “We have no reason to believe that there is any other existing threat out there.” He declined to say whether this was a lone wolf attack.
Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi issued a statement that read, in part: “U.S. Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated ... The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
Members of Congress like House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) responded to the incident by calling for investigation.
