A video obtained by the tabloid website TMZ appears to show the suspected gunman who shot at former President Donald Trump both before the shooting and after he was killed by Secret Service agents. According to TMZ, the clip “shows the moment the gunman opened fire at the Butler, PA rally Saturday — and you can see the guy looking through either a scope or iron sights on a roof…with people watching down below and freaking out, their panic palpable.”
The report continues, “The guy has longer brown hair, and he seems to be wearing a grey shirt/khaki pants — and as you can see, he’s carefully trying to pinpoint a target from afar before pulling the trigger.” Federal law enforcement officials have identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a native of Bethel Park, PA, a relatively affluent area south of Pittsburgh, about an hour’s drive from where Trump was speaking on Saturday night.
Authorities discovered two explosive devices in Crooks’ car and are investigating the possibility of a third device at his residence. President Joe Biden is expected to address the nation about the incident today at 1:30 PM ET.
The New York Times reported on Sunday that “authorities have given no indication that they have a motive for the shooting.” Early Sunday morning, law enforcement officers closed all roads leading to the suspect’s family home in Bethel Park.
The tragic events at the rally have left many shaken. Videos from the scene show Trump grabbing his neck after the apparent gunshots, with Secret Service agents quickly pulling him to the ground. He was then transported in an armored vehicle to a hospital, where he was treated for injuries.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as authorities continue their work. The nation awaits President Biden’s statement, hoping for clarity and direction in the wake of this alarming incident.