The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the “subject involved” in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, it said in a statement on Sunday.
Crooks, who was from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was registered as a Republican, according to the state’s voter records.
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Sunday that the airspace over Bethel Park was closed “effective immediately” for special security reasons.
Previously, law enforcement officials had told reporters they had tentatively identified a suspected shooter but were not ready to do so publicly. They also said they had not yet identified a motive.
Watch the moment snipers shot down the shooter:
The shooter was dead, one rally attendee was killed and two other spectators were injured, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident was being investigated as an assassination attempt.
Trump, 78, had just started his speech when the shots rang out. He grabbed his right ear with his right hand, then brought his hand down to look at it before dropping to his knees behind the podium before Secret Service agents swarmed and covered him. He emerged about a minute later, his red “Make America Great Again” hat knocked off, and could be heard saying “wait, wait,” before the fist bump, then agents rushed him to a black SUV.
Secret Service snipers opening fire at gunman
A video circulating on a private news outlet showed two Secret Service snipers stationed on a roof near the stage where Donald Trump was addressing the rally. The snipers responded to shots fired by a gunman, quickly taking aim and opening fire.
