
The FBI on Sunday identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the "subject involved" in Saturday's assassination of former United States President Donald Trump, one of the highest-profile acts of political violence in decades.
But who was the 20-year-old who shot Donald Trump?
Little is known about him, except that he won the Math Olympiad and registered as a Republican voter. The FBI identified him as Thomas Matthew Crooks about seven hours after the shooting. They had previously said they were using biometrics to identify the gunman.
Not much is known about Crooks' life or upbringing up to this point. But he is thought to have won a National Mathematics Award. Crooks also appeared to be wearing clothing promoting one of the most popular YouTube channels dedicated to firearms during the attack.
Crooks was allegedly on the roof of a building about 150 meters from where Donald Trump was speaking. He was stationed outside the area secured by the Secret Service before the rally and was immediately "neutralized" by the Secret Service after the shooting.
The law enforcement agency said in a brief statement that Crooks was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, about an hour's drive from the site of the rally where Trump was shot in the ear while giving a campaign speech.
The statement did not provide further details about suspect Crooks, who witnesses said opened fire with a rifle from a rooftop near the rally before being killed by law enforcement officials.
The FBI said earlier that there is an "active and ongoing investigation" into the incident, stressing that anyone with information should contact authorities immediately.
At least one rally attendee was killed and two others were seriously injured in the shooting, which took place at a large, open outdoor space in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Earlier Sunday, Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh field office, told reporters that "it's surprising" that the gunman fired four or five times before he was killed.
"We currently do not have a motive identified, although our investigators are working tirelessly to try to find what that motive was," Agent Rojek said, noting that the investigation could take months.
In a social media post, former President Trump said he was "fine" after being shot with a bullet that pierced the top of his right ear. Mr. Trump was released from the hospital late Saturday.
"It is unbelievable that such an act could happen in our country," said former President Trump, who thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for their work.
"What's more important," he said, "I want to express my condolences to the family of the person who was killed, as well as to the family of another person who was seriously injured."
The attack came after a busy day of campaigning for Trump and former President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race.
The attack on Trump was the most serious attempt to kill a president or presidential candidate since the assassination of former President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
This assassination took place in a deeply polarized political atmosphere, just four months before the presidential election and days before Trump officially received the nomination as his party's candidate for the Republican Assembly. His campaign said that the Assembly will be held as planned.