Top Points:
Assassination Attempt on Trump: Authorities are investigating how a shooter managed to position himself on a rooftop near where former President Donald Trump was speaking, injuring Trump and killing a spectator during a rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter was killed by Secret Service personnel.
Shooter Identified: The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old nursing-home employee and registered Republican from suburban Pittsburgh, had explosives in his vehicle. The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
Security Concerns: The attack, occurring as Republicans gathered in Milwaukee for their national convention, has heightened focus on safety and security measures. President Biden has called for an independent review of rally security, emphasizing the need to reject political violence.
Full Report:
In a shocking turn of events, authorities are diligently investigating how a shooter managed to get on a rooftop so close to where former President Donald Trump was speaking and open fire. This incident took place as Republicans gathered in Milwaukee for their national convention, and President Joe Biden urged Americans to reject political violence.
Here’s what we know so far:
The U.S. Secret Service is probing how the gunman, armed with an AR-style rifle, was able to position himself on a nearby roof and shoot, injuring the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. The shooter, who was killed by Secret Service personnel, fired multiple shots at the stage from an "elevated position outside of the rally venue," according to the agency. Trump, bloodied, reported being "shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear." A spectator also lost their life.
An analysis by The Associated Press of over a dozen videos and photos from the Trump rally, along with satellite imagery, reveals the shooter was astonishingly close to the stage where Trump was speaking, with the roof being less than 150 meters (164 yards) away. President Biden has called for an independent review of the security measures at the rally.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old nursing-home employee from suburban Pittsburgh, attempted to assassinate Trump. Crooks, a registered Republican, had explosives in the vehicle he drove to the rally, located an hour from his home. Authorities have yet to determine what motivated Crooks to attempt this heinous act.
Law enforcement officials are working to uncover more about Crooks, who hailed from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The FBI has not found any underlying ideology or threatening writings or social media posts from Crooks, who had no prior criminal record. They believe he acted alone, and the shooting is being investigated as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro praised Corey Comperatore, the man killed at the rally, as a hero who "dove on his family to protect them." Comperatore, 50, was a former fire chief. Additionally, two other men, David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, were identified as being shot and remained hospitalized in stable condition.
In a national address, President Biden emphasized that political passions must not descend into violence, calling for reason and balance to prevail over brute force. "We must never descend into violence," Biden said, highlighting the foundational principles of American democracy.
Former President Trump arrived in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, which kicks off with thousands of Republicans set to formally nominate him as their 2024 presidential candidate. Despite the attack, Trump’s aides reported he was in "great spirits" and doing well. Trump initially planned to delay his trip but decided against letting a "shooter" force any changes to his schedule.
Saturday's attack is the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. The U.S. has a history of political violence, with four presidents—Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, and John Kennedy—having been assassinated.
Original Story by The Associated Press, Newsmax
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