Investigations begin to yield results: Everything we know so far about Trump's attack

Donald Trump was the victim of an assassination attempt this Saturday, July 13, while hosting a political rally in Pennsylvania. While the authorities continue to investigate what happened, VOZ wants to share with you what we know so far.  

Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania

As part of his presidential campaign, Donald Trump hosted a rally this Saturday in the rural town of Butler, Pennsylvania. It was one of his last campaign events before the Republican National Convention where he will be nominated as the official Republican candidate. 

The rally was held at the Butler Farm Show Grounds, an open field surrounded by a small industrial area and trees. 

The attack 

Six minutes into Trump‘s speech, several gunshots were heard at the Butler Farm Show Grounds. Several cameras were recording the former President Trump at the time of the attack. He put his hand up to his ear and dropped to the ground. Secret Service agents rushed over to protect him and escort him off the stage. During this time, Trump raised his fist and received a standing ovation from the audience. 

The former president was taken to a hospital and shortly afterward announced that the bullet had pierced the top of his right ear but that he was safe.

In a social media post, former President Donald Trump recounted his experience during the incident: "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the shooter 

Authorities released the identity of the shooter who attacked Donald Trump at a political rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. He has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. The New York Post released this information, and the FBI later confirmed it. 

The attacker was shot dead as he fired his first shots by snipers protecting the event.

Authorities are investigating the motive for the attack, but as of Sunday, there was no indication that the shooter had any mental health issues or had been linked to any specific ideology or foreign terrorism.

The FBI secured the shooter's home, and federal law enforcement is conducting a search of his family's residence in a Pittsburgh suburb. The shooter's family is cooperating fully with investigators, according to an FBI official.

200 yards away with an AR-15

The shooter used an AR-15-type rifle to fire eight shots at the former president. The shooter was 200 yards away on the rooftop of an abandoned industrial building. 

Authorities were able to recover the gun used in the shooting. According to the FBI, the gun was legally acquired in 2013 and is registered to the shooter's father, Matthew Crooks. However, it has not yet been clarified how the shooter managed to get hold of the firearm.

In addition to the gun, authorities found among the shooter's belongings a "rudimentary" explosive device, which was sent along with his mobile phone to the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis.

Shooter was seen before firing

Reports indicate that approximately 26 minutes before opening fire, the shooter, Matthew Crooks, was seen and photographed by police officers. Several witnesses also alerted law enforcement to the presence of a man on the roof who appeared to be prepared to fire at any moment.

Other victims of the shooting

In addition to the wound the shooter inflicted on Donald Trump, one man lost his life during the attack. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro identified the victim as Corey Comperatore, 50, a resident of Sarver, Pennsylvania. Comperatore was the father of two daughters, worked for a plastics manufacturing company, and served as a volunteer firefighter in his community. According to Shapiro, Comperatore was fatally shot in the head while trying to protect his family during the shooting.

Two other people were also seriously injured in the incident. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

"A security breakdown from start to finish"

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump has sparked harsh criticism of the Secret Service. Chris Swecker, former deputy director of the FBI, and Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, have called the incident a serious "security breakdown." Swecker highlighted the lack of preventative measures and response. At the same time, Prince accused the authorities of "malice or massive incompetence" for allowing the shooter to approach the former president with a rifle.

Biden's statement

President Joe Biden reacted to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump by issuing a statement in which he expressed gratitude for the former president's well-being. Shortly afterward, in a televised address on Saturday, Biden said that "There's no place for this kind of violence in America."

"It's sick. It's one of the reasons why we have to unite this country. We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this," Biden said.

On Sunday, Biden reiterated his call for calm from the White House, asking Americans to "lower the temperature in our politics."

However, his conciliatory tone did not last long. Recently, the president used the occasion to criticize his political rival, referring to past incidents such as the events in Charlottesville in 2020 and the protests of January 6. He also returned to his statements that Trump would be "a dictator from day one."