Suspect Reportedly Identified Following Apparent Attempt

Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, while speaking at an open air campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. Multiple shots were fired while Trump was on stage addressing the crowd. He was struck in the upper part of his right ear and was seen ducking behind the podium with his hand to his ear as Secret Service agents rushed to surround him. Blood was visible on the side of his face as agents shielded him and moved him off stage. In a moment that became instantly iconic, Trump raised his fist to the crowd as he was being escorted away.

One rallygoer was killed in the shooting, and two others were critically injured. The gunman was killed by a Secret Service sniper shortly after firing. Trump's campaign released a statement saying the former president was "fine," and his senior advisers expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and first responders.

The Shooter Identified

The FBI identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20 year old from Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh. According to the Associated Press, Crooks was a registered Republican voter in Pennsylvania, though it was unclear how long he had been registered with the party. Federal campaign finance records also showed that he had made a $15 donation to a progressive political action committee on the day President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Crooks fired from the roof of a building approximately 130 yards from the stage using an AR 15 style rifle. He fired eight shots before being neutralized by a Secret Service counter sniper. According to the FBI, Crooks arrived at the rally site at 11 a.m. on the day of the shooting, spent about an hour there, and then went home before returning later. Investigators were still working to determine a motive and how Crooks acquired the firearm, though two law enforcement officials told the AP that they believed his father had purchased the gun at least six months prior.

The Security Failures

The shooting raised immediate questions about how Crooks was able to get onto a rooftop with a clear line of sight to the stage. Reports indicated that he was spotted by law enforcement at least twice in the 26 minutes before the shooting, but the information was not relayed quickly enough to prevent the attack. The incident led to widespread criticism of the Secret Service's security planning for the event and prompted investigations into what went wrong.

The Aftermath

The assassination attempt dominated the news cycle for weeks and had a significant impact on the 2024 presidential race. Trump appeared at subsequent events without the ear bandage within days, projecting strength and resilience. The incident galvanized his base and generated an outpouring of support from across the political spectrum. President Biden condemned the shooting and called for unity, and security protocols for campaign events were reviewed and tightened in the aftermath. The shooting remains one of the most significant moments in modern American political history.