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Thomas Matthew Crooks Bought 50 Rounds Of Ammo The Morning Of The Donald Trump Shooting
By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on July 15, 2024 at 4:45 PM EDT
The investigation into Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspect in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, continues.
The 20-year-old nearly shot and killed Trump, but seconds before the shot was fired, the 78-year-old turned his head, and the bullet grazed his right ear. However, one rallygoer passed away, and two others were severely injured and remain in critical condition.
According to several reports, Crooks used a semi-automatic rifle and fired approximately eight shots. Law enforcement sources indicated that he was positioned on top of a shed outside the security perimeter established by the Secret Service, shooting from about 400 feet away from the stage.
It has now been confirmed that Thomas Matthew Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammo on the morning of the Donald Trump rally.
Details Surrounding The Attempted Assassination Of Donald Trump Revealed
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Thomas Matthew Crooks fired six to eight rounds with an AR-style weapon on Saturday at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania. One bullet grazed Trump's ear, leaving the side of his face bloodied.
As the FBI continues to investigate the attempted assassination of the former President, it has now been confirmed that Crooks bought 50 rounds of ammo for his gun the morning of the shooting, per CBS. The gun used was traced to Crooks’ father and was purchased legally.
“We are working hard to determine the sequence of events related to the subject and his movements in the hours, days, and weeks prior to the shooting,” Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office said, noting “we’re still very early in this investigation.”
Thomas Matthew Crooks' Bethel Park Neighbors Speak Out
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Around 10 a.m. on Monday, several SUVs arrived on the street where Crooks had lived. Approximately four men exited the vehicles. One of them wore a patch that read "Pittsburgh Federal Bureau of Investigation," with "SWAT" prominently displayed in the center.
In addition to searching the home, the FBI also spoke with two neighbors, one of whom was Steve Riviere, who later spoke with KDKA-TV.
"I don't feel any particular culpability to it because I live in the same neighborhood. I think everybody is shocked and surprised, maybe not as surprised as we should be but shocked that this kind of thing happened. And I think we all hope that this will be the end of it and we'll get to a position where people can have regular polite discourse about their issues rather than pulling out a gun and climbing on a roof," Riviere said, per CBS.
Details Surrounding The 20-Year-Old Gunman Surface
JUST IN: The suspect who tried to ass*ssinate Donald Trump made a donation to Democrat-aligned ActBlue on Biden's inauguration day.
20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was a registered Republican.
His father, who spoke with CNN, says he is trying to find out "what the h*ll is… pic.twitter.com/LMJLLMzbNd
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 14, 2024
Although records show Thomas Matthew Crooks was registered as a Republican in Pennsylvania, federal campaign finance documents also reveal that he donated $15 to a progressive political action committee on January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden's inauguration.
He lived in a wealthy suburb in the hills south of Pittsburgh, about an hour's drive from the rally location.
Thomas Matthew Crooks' Family Is Cooperating With The FBI
JUST IN: The suspect who tried to ass*ssinate Donald Trump made a donation to Democrat-aligned ActBlue on Biden's inauguration day.
20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was a registered Republican.
His father, who spoke with CNN, says he is trying to find out "what the h*ll is… pic.twitter.com/LMJLLMzbNd
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 14, 2024
According to ABC, multiple law enforcement sources report that the gun recovered at the scene of the attempted assassination of Trump was legally purchased by the suspect's father. The father, who spoke with CNN, expressed his confusion, stating he is trying to find out "what the hell is going on" and will "wait until I talk to law enforcement" before saying more.
Federal agents are investigating when and how Crooks acquired the gun, as well as gathering additional information about him.
The FBI has confirmed that Crooks' family is cooperating with investigators.
Joe Biden Heightens Level Of Security Following Assassination Attempt
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The day after the incident occurred, President Joe Biden addressed the Nation, confirming that Donald Trump has received a "heightened level of security."
“Mr. Trump, as a former president and nominee of the Republican party, already received a heightened level of security and I’ve been consistent in my direction of the Secret Service to provide him with every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety,” Joe Biden said, per The Guardian.
“Second, I’ve directed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures for … the Republican national convention, which is scheduled to start tomorrow," he continued. "And third, I’ve directed an independent review of national security at yesterday’s rally to assess exactly what happened, and we’ll share the results of that independent review with the American people as well."