Donald Trump shooting update: The gunman who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, former US President and 2024 US Presidential candidate, at an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, reported New York Post.
Following the attack, the assailant was shot dead by Secret Service agents and the security officials recovered an AR-style rifle.
According to sources, the attacker was stationed on the roof of a manufacturing plant that was more than 130 yards away from the stage where Donald Trump was addressing the public at Butler Farm Show grounds.
Donald Trump was shot in the right ear and in a first account after the incident, he elaborated on the details. Taking to social media platform Truth Social, Donald Trump said, “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear."
He added, “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.”
The former US President extended his condolences to the family of the dead rally-goer and expressed gratefulness towards law enforcement for their response.
The FBI is treating the incident as an assassination attempt but has not yet identified a motive. Meanwhile, Trump's campaign stated that he is "fine" and still plans to attend his party's nominating convention next week in Milwaukee.
The harrowing incident drew criticism from US President Joe Biden who said “We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this," reported Bloomberg.
“We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this,” Biden said. Condemning the attack as “sick," Biden said, “Everybody must condemn it.” The US President and Democratic Party candidate spoke with Donald Trump following the incident. He cut short his weekend in Rehoboth Beach and returned to the White House.
