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Trump Shooter Identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20

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The man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday at a campaign rally has been identified.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was identified as the shooter by the FBI. Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service agent shortly after he grazed Trump’s ear while firing two shots at him. 

No motive has been revealed at this time.

Law enforcement officials say that a semi-automatic rifle was used by Crooks, according to NBC News. Bomb making materials were found in his home and car, The Associated Press reported.

Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro identified the rally attendee killed in the shooting as 50-year-old volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Comperatore “died a hero”  when he “dove on his family to protect them last night at this rally,” the governor said.

Shapiro said he had ordered flags in his state to fly at half staff in honor of Comperatore, who was the former chief of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company.
Two other people were seriously wounded in the shooting. They were identified by Pennsylvania State Police as David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74, WJAC reported.

As previously reported by CrimeOnline, Trump was grazed by a bullet at a campaign rally Saturday afternoon in deep red Butler, Pennsylvania.

Live video showed Trump reaching for his right ear before Secret Service agents rushed to protect him, taking the ex-president to the floor of the stage and then whisked him away to his motorcade outside the venue.

Trump raised a trademark fist in the air as the agents took him away, a smear of blood on his ear and across his cheek.

Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” The New York Times said.

Trump’s full statement said:

“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.

“Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. 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. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

 Check back with CrimeOnline for updates.

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[Feature Photo: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar]