The man identified by the FBI who shot at Donald Trump – Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old Republican from Pennsylvania. Crooks, who was wearing a T-shirt with a pro-gun YouTube channel logo, was killed by a special forces sniper after firing three shots at the former president on Saturday.
One shot grazed Trump’s ear, causing blood to spray on his face, and a man behind Trump was killed, with two others injured. The FBI considers the incident an assassination attempt and continues to investigate.
Reports indicate that heavily armed agents raided Crooks’ home in Bethel Park, near Pittsburgh. Crooks, who had no identification, was identified through DNA samples. FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek said the motive is still unknown.
Crooks used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a weapon commonly used in US mass shootings, and shot from a rooftop near the rally in Butler. Witnesses said Crooks took several minutes to steady himself before firing. Photos showed Crooks wearing beige shorts and a grey T-shirt with the Demolition Ranch logo, a popular pro-gun YouTube channel.
Crooks, a registered Republican, had donated $15 to a Democratic group shortly after the Capitol riot on January 20, 2021. He had no criminal record, and a video of him graduating high school circulated online. His father is seeking more information before commenting.
Open-source intelligence analysts noted Crooks’ minimal social media presence, unusual for his age, and found he communicated on a Discord server, often used by fringe groups.
The Demolition Ranch YouTube channel, run by Matt Carriker, has nearly 12 million subscribers and features gun-related content. Carriker’s Instagram account, which showcases guns, cars, and family activities, lacks political messages.
