Thomas Matthew Crooks, sniper whom the FBI identified as the author of the attack on Trump

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The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the alleged perpetrator of the shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The suspect, who was killed by security forces, is a resident of Bethel Park, which is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, about 70 kilometers from Butler.

In 2022, he graduated from Bethel Park High School, as confirmed by the CBS news network, partners of the BBC in the United States.

The shift manager at a nursing home in Bethel, called Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehab, told the BBC that Crooks worked in the kitchen there.

Crooks was killed by the Secret Service in charge of protecting the former president after he fired several rounds.

The attacker used a semi-automatic AR-15 type rifle and fired from the top of a building at a distance of about 200 meters, as BBC Verify was able to confirm after analyzing the images.
According to information from the Associated Press (AP) news agency, investigators believe that the gun used to shoot Donald Trump was purchased by Thomas Crook's father.
Speaking to CNN, Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, said he was trying to find out "what the hell is going on" but that he would "wait until I talk to the police" before giving statements about his son.

The FBI is investigating the incident as an attempted murder and designated the site of Trump's rally as a crime scene.

"This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is asked to submit photos or videos online," the FBI said in a statement.

The building from which Crooks shot was outside the security perimeter where the former president was holding a rally attended by thousands of supporters.

One spectator was killed by gunfire and two other people were seriously injured. All of them are men, according to the FBI, which has not yet offered more information about the victims.

Trump, who had just begun a speech at the time of the shooting, was grazed by a bullet on the top of his right ear.

The images, which were broadcast live, showed how the former president put his hand to his ear and crouched behind the lectern when the shots began to be heard.

He was quickly surrounded by secret service agents who evacuated him in a vehicle.

Pennsylvania Police's George Bivens said officers at the scene acted "heroically" and there was no reason to believe a threat still existed.

Trump was examined at a local hospital, from which he has since been released.

The former Republican president is "well" and is grateful to law enforcement, according to a statement published on the Republican National Committee (RNC) website.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, two officers told the AP that Crooks' father purchased a gun at least six months ago.

A witness who identified himself as Greg assured the BBC's correspondent in the United States, Gary O'Donoghue, that he could see a man with a rifle on a roof minutes before the incident occurred.

The attacker had no criminal record, according to Pennsylvania public court records.

At the time of the attack, the man was not wearing identification, so investigators used DNA to identify him, the FBI said.

Crooks was apparently registered as a Republican in Pennsylvania, according to the AP agency, which had access to voter registration.

However, he also donated US$15 to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, the same day President Joe Biden was sworn into office, according to campaign finance records cited by the agency.

Police had surrounded Crooks' family home in Bethel Park on Sunday morning, according to The New York Times.
Speaking to CNN, Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, said he was trying to find out "what the hell is going on" but that he would "wait until I talk to the police" before giving statements about his son.

The FBI is investigating the incident as an attempted murder and designated the site of Trump's rally as a crime scene.

"This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is asked to submit photos or videos online," the FBI said in a statement.

The building from which Crooks shot was outside the security perimeter where the former president was holding a rally attended by thousands of supporters.

One spectator was killed by gunfire and two other people were seriously injured. All of them are men, according to the FBI, who for the He has not yet offered more information about the victims.

Trump, who had just begun a speech at the time of the shooting, was grazed by a bullet on the top of his right ear.

The images, which were broadcast live, showed how the former president put his hand to his ear and crouched behind the lectern when the shots began to be heard.

He was quickly surrounded by secret service agents who evacuated him in a vehicle.

Pennsylvania Police's George Bivens said officers at the scene acted "heroically" and there was no reason to believe a threat still existed.

Trump was examined at a local hospital, from which he has since been released.

The former Republican president is "well" and is grateful to law enforcement, according to a statement published on the Republican National Committee (RNC) website.