Federal investigators have identified the man who shot Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.
In a statement, the FBI said: “The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject of the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that could assist the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800- CALL-FBI.”
Investigators said Crooks had been “neutralized” and was now dead.
Video captured by helicopter above the rally in Butler shows a man lying on a roof with what appears to be a rifle next to him.
The second video, taken by a member of the public at ground level, shows a man wearing camouflage clothing lying on top of the roof.
Someone behind the camera says: “You can see the man there. I think they hit him. The man… he looks dead.”
Sky News looked at the venue images and social media and the distance between Trump and the person on the roof is around 150m.
Trump’s latest shooting: Rifle and body pictured on rooftop
US Sky correspondent Martha Kelner said: “If these pictures are what they appear to be – if that’s a shooter who died on top of that building 150m away from the rally venue… the incident inside that rally venue, questions will be asked about where the Secret Service perimeter ended.”
Speaking at an overnight news conference, Lt. Col. George Bivens said officers “do not believe this was a lone wolf attack” and that law enforcement’s priority was “the cause of the shooting.” identify” and “if there was anyone else. in question”.
FBI special agent Kevin Rojek said: “Suspicious packages were identified around the shooter’s location so we deployed – with considerable caution – bomb assets to ensure they were cleared for investigators to move safely into the area.”
He told reporters that a cause had not been identified.
An earlier statement from the US Secret Service said: “During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13 at approximately 6.15pm, a suspected shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside the rally venue . .
“The shooter, who is now deceased, was neutralized by US Secret Service personnel. The US Secret Service responded quickly with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated.
“One bystander was killed, two bystanders were critically injured. The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
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National security analyst Frank Figliuzzi told NBC that “the entire FBI picture will be involved” including analysis of high-tech crime scenes.
But he explained that “more immediately, all the social media and computer devices of this shooter, all the interviews of his co-workers, his family, his neighbors – all that”.
He said: “The whole history of his life will be reconstructed quite quickly and the goal here will be to see if anyone else was involved, is this part of a larger conspiracy? Was there anything that ‘could be done to promote or intervene in this?’
“They will be looking at his weapon, where did it come from, was it bought legally or not? Was he ever trained as a sniper, in any profession he had? And of course, what was his motive? “
Mr. Figliuzzi added: “I warn people … don’t jump to conclusions. We don’t know where this shooter was coming from mentally. And that’s where the FBI is going.
“One of the things that is necessary to end terrorism. They have to rule out that this was not a party to an international terrorist plot. So, many things on the FBI’s plate in the days and weeks to come.”
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed his agency and the Secret Service are working with law enforcement partners to investigate the shooting.
He said they are “taking every possible step” to ensure the safety of President Biden, former President Trump and their campaigns.
“The security of presidential candidates and their campaign events is one of our department’s most important priorities,” he said.
And House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X: “The American people deserve the truth. We will have Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle and other appropriate officials from DHS and the FBI appear for a hearing before our committees.”