The FBI named 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as a suspect in a statement on Sunday, the news agency reports Reuters.
The motive is still not clear, but the shooter is said to have been on a roof just outside the area where Trump gave his speech during the night Swedish time.
The man, who was lying with his weapon between 120 and 150 meters from the former president, was killed shortly after he fired the shots at the stage, according to CNN.
According to information to the news agency AP from anonymous police sources, the suspected shooter is also alleged to have targeted a police officer who saw him after climbing onto the roof where he was lying. When the police were on their way back down shortly afterwards, the shots at Donald Trump should have been fired, according to the information.
“This remains an ongoing investigation, and anyone who can assist is encouraged to submit photos and video,” the FBI statement said.
Registered Republican
BBC reports that Crooks came from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, an affluent and homogenous suburb of Pittsburgh located about seven miles from Butler where the caucus was held.
The man, who according to the New York Times should be unpunished, has also attended school there, and the morning after the assassination attempt, the roads leading to the home where the family of the suspect man live were closed.
In 2022, Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School, and according to local media, in the same year he received a prize of 500 dollars from the organization National Math and Science Initiative, TT writes.
The man should be a registered Republican, reports Washington Postbut shall according to NBC also donated $15 to ActBlue, which is a fundraising platform linked to the Democrats.
“A Lone Wolf”
Crooks’ relatives have been notified of the shooting, and his father, who according to the Wall Street Journal’s information is said to have bought the rifle allegedly used, tells CNN that he is trying to understand “what the hell is going on.”
One of the man’s former classmates describes Crooks to the New York Post as lonely.
– He was more of a loner. He probably had a bunch of friends, but not that many, the person said.