(BUTLER, Pa.) — Much about the man who allegedly took aim at a former president on Saturday remained a mystery on Monday, as teams of FBI investigators scoured the 20-year-old’s gunman’s background, building a timeline of his actions and sifting through his digital history in search of a motive.
The attempted assassination was being investigated as a potential act of domestic terrorism, the FBI said in a statement late Sunday.
“The FBI has not identified a motive for the shooter’s actions, but we are working to determine the sequence of events and the shooter’s movements prior to the shooting, collecting and reviewing evidence, conducting interviews, and following up on all leads,” the bureau said in the statement.
Trump was shot in an assassination attempt at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the FBI said. Secret Service agents swarmed the former president before leading him off the stage to a waiting vehicle. Trump is “fine,” a spokesperson later said.
The alleged shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed at the scene, the Secret Service said. One spectator was killed and two were hurt, officials said.
Investigators have begun retracing the suspect’s steps, an attempt to figure out how Crooks could have made it up onto the roof, which had been swept prior to the event, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
He was perched on the building outside the security perimeter, where the crowd passing through was checked for weapons, but was fewer than 400 feet from the podium where Trump was speaking, officials said.
FBI investigators, led by the Pittsburgh Field Office, have searched Crook’s home in Bethel Park, a suburb of Pittsburgh. They’ve also searched his vehicle, which was at the scene of the shooting in Butler, the FBI said.
“Suspicious devices found at both locations have been rendered safe by bomb technicians and are being evaluated at the FBI Laboratory,” the FBI said.
The AR-15 style rifle allegedly used by Crooks had been legally purchased by the suspect’s father, law enforcement sources told ABC News. The family is cooperating with the investigation.
The bureau said it has also began combing through the shooter’s phone.
“At present, we have not identified an ideology associated with the subject,” Kevin Rojeck, a special agent, said. “But I want to remind everyone that we’re still very early in this investigation.”
British businesswoman and sports administrator Debbie Hewitt, Britain’s Prince George of Wales and Britain’s Prince William sing the national anthem ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 final football match between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14, 2024. — Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images
(BERLIN) — Prince George made a surprise appearance in Berlin Sunday, joining his dad Prince William to cheer on England against Spain at the 2024 UEFA European Championship final.
George, who will turn 11 later this month, and William both wore dark suits for the game, held at the Olympiastadion Berlin in Germany.
Unfortunately for the royal duo, England lost to Spain 2-1.
William, president of the Football Association, England’s governing body for soccer, offered words of consolation after the game, writing on social media, “This time it just wasn’t meant to be. We’re all still so proud of you. Onwards @England. W.”
Kensington Palace announced before Sunday’s game that William would attend, but George’s appearance with his dad was a surprise.
Earlier in the day, George’s younger sister, Princess Charlotte, 9, joined their mom Kate, the Princess of Wales, at Wimbledon.
Charlotte and Kate, who were also joined by Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, watched Carlos Alcaraz defeat Novak Djokovic for his second Wimbledon title.
After the match, Kate, the royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, presented the championship trophies to Alcaraz and Djokovic.
Leading up to Sunday’s final, it was not known whether Kate would attend this year’s tournament. In March, the 42-year-old princess announced she had been diagnosed with cancer.
The type of cancer has not been disclosed.
After remaining out of the public eye since announcing her diagnosis, Kate stepped out for the first time in public in June to attend Trooping the Colour with other members of the royal family on the famed balcony at Buckingham Palace.
George and Charlotte’s sports outings with their parents come just a few weeks after they attended the first London show of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour on June 21, alongside William.
After the concert, Swift shared a sweet selfie with William, George and Charlotte.
Neither Kate nor George and Charlotte’s younger sibling, Prince Louis, attended the concert.
(NEW YORK) — As the Israel-Hamas war continues, efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization are ongoing, and Israeli forces have launched an assault in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Israel has not confirmed whether Saturday’s strike that killed 90 Palestinians killed two Hamas officials, including military chief Mohammed Deif, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a press conference.
“There is still no absolute certainty that the two have been eliminated, but I want to assure you that one way or another we will reach the entire top of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said he was briefed about the type of weapons that would be used and the expected “collateral damage,” as well as confirming Israel did not believe any hostages were held in the area, before giving the go ahead for the strike.
“Why should we risk something leaking out? Suppose something leaked, Deif and his deputy would go underground in a second. We update our American friends when necessary,” Netanyahu said.
Asked about not telling the U.S. about the strike beforehand, Netanyahu said it was to avoid an information leak.
-ABC News’ Anna Burd
Jul 13, 2024, 4:14 PM EDT UN Human Rights Office condemns IDF’s strikes in Gaza humanitarian zones
The United Nations Human Rights Office has condemned the Israel Defense Forces’ use of weapons in populated areas of Gaza, including humanitarian zones, hours after an attack killed 90 Palestinians.
“The latest attack and casualty followed right after another massive attack on the north, which lasted for a week, resulting in further destruction and casualties,” the UN Human Rights Office said in a statement.
The U.N. said the IDF’s use of weapons in densely populated areas “despite the overwhelming evidence that these means and methods have led to disproportionate harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure, suggests a pattern of willful violation of the disregard of [International Humanitarian Law] principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.”
“The use of such weapons in an area to which IDF is ordering people to evacuate demonstrates a rampant disregard for the safety of civilians. Even if Palestinian armed group members were using the presence of civilians in these areas in an attempt to shield themselves from attack, which would violate IHL, this would not remove IDF’s obligations to comply with these fundamental IHL principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution,” the U.N. said.
Jul 13, 2024, 3:14 PM EDT Death toll from Israeli attack on Khan Younis rises to 90
The death toll from Israel’s deadly attack on Al Mawasi, west of the southern city of Khan Younis, has now risen to 90 people killed and 300 injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
Israel had admitted earlier that the strike was in the expanded humanitarian zone.
Investigators confirmed to ABC News they believe this screenshot shows suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks receiving his diploma and is part of their probe. — Acquired by ABC News
(BUTLER, Pa.) — A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man is suspected to be the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday, firing several shots and killing at least one spectator, federal and local law enforcement agencies said.
The FBI early on Sunday identified the suspect, who was killed at the scene, as Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park. Firefighter Corey Comperatore, a dad who was attending the rally was killed and two other bystanders injured.
The FBI did not “currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said. The highest priority is being placed on determining motive because the bureau is also looking at the shooting as a “potential domestic terrorism act,” said Robert Wells, the FBI’s assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division.
In a later call, Rojek indicated officials believed that Crooks “acted alone and that there are currently no public safety concerns.”
“At present, we have not identified an ideology associated with the subject, but I want to remind everyone that we’re still very early in this investigation,” he added.
Officials feared that the assassination attempt would inspire others.
The assassination attempt against President Donald Trump “will likely be amplified in extremist messaging and heavily exploited by malicious actors as well as adversarial nation-states in mis/dis/mal-information aimed at fomenting division,” according to an NYPD intelligence product obtained by ABC News.
“In the immediate hours after the shooting took place, multiple users on numerous online messaging platforms responded to the incident with support for the attack, overt calls for civil war, hostile rhetoric against FPOTUS Trump, threats against elected officials, and generalized calls for retaliatory violence,” according to the bulletin which was dated July 14, 2024.
Portrait emerges
Crooks had been registered as a Republican voter, according to state records. A $15 donation to a progressive group was also recorded under “Thomas Crooks” in January 2021, according to FEC records.
He graduated from high school in Pennsylvania in 2022, district officials said. The suspect had no military affiliation, according to the Pentagon.
He was working as a dietary aide at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, according to administrator Marcie Grimm. Thomas Matthew Crooks “performed his job without concern” and passed a background check, according to Grimm. “We are shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement as Thomas Matthew Crooks performed his job without concern and his background check was clean,” Grimm said in a statement. “We are fully cooperating with law enforcement officials at this time.”
The firearm recovered at the scene was legally purchased by the suspect’s father, an urgent trace conducted by ATF found, according to multiple law enforcement sources. A source who has been briefed said the gun was an AR-15 style rifle that was purchased in 2013.
Crooks allegedly fired as many as eight rounds from a rooftop 200-300 yards away, other sources said.
According to Rojek, from the FBI, there was a suspicious device found in the suspect’s car and agents were trying to determine what it is. Another was found in his home, Rojek said, and both were described as rudimentary.
Crooks had no known history of mental illness, per the FBI. His family is cooperating with investigators.
“We’re looking into his background, his day-to-day activities, any writings, and social media posts that might help us identify what led to this shooting. And we have not seen anything threatening,” Rojek added.
The social media platform Discord told ABC News on Sunday that it’s cooperating with law enforcement and has identified a “rarely used” account that appears to have been linked to the alleged shooter. The company said it “found no evidence” that the account was used in the planning of the attack.
In a statement to ABC News, a Discord spokesperson said the account linked to the alleged shooter also did not “promote violence” or “discuss his political views.”
Investigators are looking at what sources describe as misinformation that the suspected gunman appears to have been recently consuming and whether it played any role in the incident, according to law enforcement sources.
So far, investigators have not uncovered any ties to extremist organizations or individuals, though they continue to scour information from the suspect’s phone and other digital devices, according to the sources. Increasingly, the shooting was looking like a lone wolf attack, sources said.
‘Lonely’ and ‘quiet’
Former classmates of the suspected shooter described him to ABC News as a student who was “quiet” and did not have many friends,.
“He was somebody who came across as lonely a lot,” said Jameson Myers, who said he attended both elementary and high school with the suspect.
Myers said that Crooks “tended to be more of an interesting one” and described him as “more socially reserved” and someone who “didn’t have a ton of friends.” But he said he never heard Crooks discuss politics or, specifically, Donald Trump.
“I was friends with him- he never acted, like, by any means a political revolutionary,” Myers said, noting he was a fan of “Star Wars” and “was a very nice, even sweet guy from what I knew.”
Myers and another student said that Crooks tried to join the high school’s rifle team but was rejected and asked not to return after a “preseason” session.
“He didn’t just not make the team, he was asked not to come back because how bad of a shot he was, it was considered like, dangerous,” said Myers.
Another member of the team, who asked not to be named, told ABC News that there was a view that Crooks “wasn’t really fit for the rifle team.”
“He also shot terrible,” the team member added.
The coach of the team at the time declined to comment and referred questions to the school district. In a statement, school district said that Crooks “never appeared on a roster” and that there is “no record” of him having tried out.
Crooks, however, did belong to a local shooting club, counsel for the club confirms to ABC News, Clairton Sportsmen’s Club.
“I can confirm that Mr. Crooks was a member of Clairton Sportsmen’s Club. Beyond that, the Club is unable to make any additional commentary in relation to this matter in light of pending law enforcement investigations,” said Robert S. Bootay III, attorney for the club. “Obviously, the Club fully admonishes the senseless act of violence that occurred yesterday. The Club also offers its sincerest condolences to the Comperatore family and extends prayers to all of those injured including the former President.”
Other classmates of Crooks, who described him as “quiet” and “very smart.”
“One thing I did know for sure was he was very smart,” said another student, who told ABC News he sat behind Crooks in their AP statistics class. “I always remember hearing his test grades when we would all compare and he always did very well and math and sciences.”
The student continued that Crooks was “never anything but kind.”
“I would not say that he ever appeared as a threatening person,” he continued.
Another classmate, Zoe Materkowski, said he was “just a quiet kid.” A classmate who graduated a year before Crooks similarly described him as a quiet student.
“He was a loner,” said Jason Kohler. “He would sit alone at lunch.”
Another classmate who rode the same bus as Crooks and shared multiple classes with him described the suspected shooter as quiet but friendly.
“I honestly can’t think of a better word to describe him than normal,” said the classmate. “He just kind of stuck to himself.”
The classmate added that Crooks was interested in building computers and never discussed politics.
“It’s just crazy, because he didn’t really seem like he would be the type to think to do that,” he said about his response to learning that Crooks was the suspected shooter.
‘Chaotic’ scene
Shots rang out a few moments after Trump stepped onto an outdoor stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. The suspect was firing from the roof of a building outside the security perimeter, taking aim from hundreds of feet away from the stage, law enforcement said.
One of the bullets struck Trump in his right ear, the former president said. The U.S. Secret Service said Trump was “safe.”
A Secret Service counter-sniper opened fire and killed the suspect, the agency said. The scene was “chaotic” and “everything unfolded very quickly,” Bevins said.
Law enforcement officials took several hours to publicly identify Crooks as their suspect, saying at a press conference late Saturday that they believed they knew who carried out the shooting, but were refraining from naming the individual.
Officials had said during that press conference that they were using the suspect’s DNA to confirm his identity, because the suspect had not been carrying anything that would have identified him.
“It’s a matter of doing biometric confirmations,” Rojek said. “So, there was no identification on the individual, for example, so we’re looking at photographs right now and we’re trying to run his DNA and get biometric confirmation.”
Determining if he acted alone
It was too early in the investigation to say whether the suspect had been acting alone, Bivens said. Investigators were determining if anyone else had been involved, he said.
The FBI did not “currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” Rojek said.
The suspect graduated in 2022 from Bethel Park High, according to the Bethel Park School District. The district said it was limited in what it could disclose publicly, adding that it would “cooperate fully” with the investigation.
“The school district wishes to express its sincere wishes for a speedy and full recovery for Mr. Trump and for those in attendance at the Saturday event who may have been physically harmed or emotionally impacted by these tragic events,” the district said, in part, in a statement.
The district added, “We offer special condolences to the family of at least one attendee who was killed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.”
As the FBI issued a statement early Sunday naming the suspect, a bureau spokesperson said the investigation remains “active and ongoing.” The FBI urged anyone with photos, videos or information to come forward.
ABC News’ Kevin Shalvey, Isabella Murray, Mark Osborne, Charlotte Slovin, Sasha Pezenik, Matt Seyler and Luis Martinez contributed to this report.
(WASHINGTON) — In the aftermath of his being shot at his political rally — an attack that left one spectator dead and two others critically wounded — former President Donald Trump on Sunday called for unity – even as some of his vice presidential hopefuls and allies right after the assassination attempt blamed President Joe Biden and his rhetoric.
“Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed,” Trump posted on his social media platform on Sunday, the morning after the incident.
“In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win,” Trump continued, thanking his followers and those around him.
Not only is there a disconnect with his VP contenders — it’s a shift in tone for the former president – who has frequently attacked Biden and called for retribution against critics throughout the election cycle.
After the shooting at Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, both the former president himself and his campaign have emphasized his desire to carry on with the upcoming Republican National Convention as scheduled and fundraising for victims and their families. Former first lady Melania Trump, too, in a rare statement, stressed, “Let’s reunite. Now.”
However, some of Trump’s strongest allies and VP hopefuls are taking a different approach from the former president. Instead, they are blaming Biden and Democrats, claiming their campaign rhetoric for contributing to the assassination attempt.
That’s in stark contract with how one of Trump’s top contenders to be his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, said on X in the first minutes following the shooting.
“Today is not just some isolated incident,” Vance wrote on X. “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, also said to be on Trump’s VP shortlist, said right afterward that Democrats’ “rhetoric” surrounding Republicans have put people’s lives at risk.
“For years, Democrats and their allies in the media have recklessly stoked fears, calling President Trump and other conservatives threats to democracy,” Scott wrote on X. “Their inflammatory rhetoric puts lives at risk.”
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, an ally of Trump who some had speculated to be among possible VP hopefuls, also blamed Biden right afterward.
“President Biden’s ritual condemnations of political violence are insufficient. No amount of verbiage today changes the toxic national climate that led to this tragedy,” Ramaswamy said in a statement.
Chris LaCivita, a senior campaign adviser to the former president, also blamed Biden and Democrats for Saturday’s shooting.
“For years, and even today, leftist activists, Democrat donors and now even [Biden] have made disgusting remarks descriptions of shooting Donald Trump,” LaCivita said on X. “It’s high time they be held accountable for it [and] the best way is through the ballot box.”
Others on Trump’s VP shortlist did not go as far.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, posted on social media “God protected President Trump,” while North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum wrote, “We all know President Trump is stronger than his enemies. Today he showed it.”
ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
(BUTLER, Pa.) — As the investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump intensified Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service was coming under scrutiny as questions mounted on how the alleged gunman managed to fire a barrage of shots from a rooftop with a vantage point of the outdoor Pennsylvania rally stage Trump was speaking from.
The FBI identified the suspected gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, whom officials said was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired up to eight shots before a Secret Service sharpshooter shot and killed him, law enforcement officials told ABC News.
The suspect appeared to be wearing a T-shirt and tan camouflage shorts that blended into the colors of the building he was perched atop.
The firearm recovered at the scene of the assassination attempt was legally purchased in 2013 by the suspect’s father, an urgent trace conducted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) found, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
Two sources told ABC News there were what “appeared” to be explosives in the suspect’s found car parked outside the Trump rally. One source said the items looked like grenades. But the sources said they were awaiting forensic results as to whether the items were explosives.
Bomb technicians and other experts were called to investigate. Officials are awaiting confirmation on whether the items contained explosives.
Federal investigators said they have found no links between the suspect and any international terrorist group. Investigators said they’re still looking into whether the suspect had any ties to domestic terrorist groups. Increasingly, the shooting is looking like the action of a lone wolf, sources said.
The suspect had no U.S. military affiliation, according to the Pentagon.
Investigators are also combing through the suspect’s social media footprint for clues, officials said.
Investigators are looking at what sources describe as misinformation the suspected gunman appeared to have been recently consuming and whether it played any role in the incident, according to law enforcement sources. So far, investigators have not uncovered any ties to extremist organizations or individuals, though they continue to scour information from the suspect’s phone and other digital devices, the sources said.
Trump posted on his Truth Social site that he suffered a bullet wound to his right ear in the attack.
Biden tells nation ‘let the FBI do their job’
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on the investigation Sunday by FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle.
Following the briefing, Briden spoke from the White House Situation Room, saying, “We must unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are.”
The president said investigators have not determined a motive for the shooting and he requested that Americans not make assumptions on the suspect’s motives or affiliations.
“Let the FBI do their job and their partner agencies do their job,” Biden said. “I’ve instructed that the investigation be thorough and swift and the investigators will have every resource they need to get this done.”
Biden said he has “been consistent in my direction of the Secret Service to provide him [Trump] with every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to insure his continued safety.”
He said he has also directed the Secret Service to “review all security measures for the Republican National Convention” scheduled to begin on Monday in Milwaukee. He said he has also ordered an independent investigation of the security provided at Saturday’s rally.
Biden said he had a “short but good conversation” with Trump late Saturday night, adding, “I’m sincerely grateful that he is doing well and recovering.”
The president said he plans to address the nation from the White House Sunday night.
Gun shots rang out as Trump began his speech
Trump was less than 10 minutes into his campaign speech and had turned his head to look at a jumbotron when the gunfire began, according to witnesses and video of the moment. Video captured the former president reaching for his ear and going to the ground as multiple shots could be heard.
A man who was attending the rally was fatally shot and two other rallygoers were shot and wounded, federal officials said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro identified the deceased victim as Corey Comperatore, 50. The Pennsylvania State Police on Sunday identified the wounded bystanders as 57-year-old David Dutch of New Kensington, Pennsylvania; and 74-year-old James Copenhaver of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Both are listed in stable condition, according to the state police.
Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro said Comperatore, a firefighter and the father of two daughters, died while protecting his family. Shapiro said Comperatore’s wife asked him to share that “Corey died a hero, that Corey dove on his family to protect them at this rally.”
The FBI is leading the investigation. Overnight, investigators said they executed a warrant at Crooks’ home in Bethel Park, about 53 miles south of Butler, Pennsylvania, where the shooting at the Trump rally occurred.
The roof where the suspect fired from had been surveyed during security preparations for the event, a law enforcement source told ABC News.
The roof was empty during those security preparations, the source said.
It remains under investigation why the Secret Service or local law enforcement didn’t post someone at the building to prevent anyone from accessing the roof.
Secret Service denies report it rebuffed Trump team request for beefed-up security
The former president, who was wearing a Make America Great Again hat, was seen in a video clutching his right ear and going to the ground as several Secret Service agents rushed to cover him with their bodies and people in the crowd also ducked for cover.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, posted a statement on X on Sunday disputing media reports that the Secret Service rejected a request from Trump’s campaign team to supply additional security resources.
“There’s an untrue assertion that a member of the former President’s team requested additional security resources & that those were rebuffed. This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo,” Guglielmi wrote.
Some senators call for investigation of Secret Service
“I call on you to launch a full, public and comprehensive committee investigation into this assassination attempt and failures to adequately protect the president,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said in a letter released Sunday formalizing a call for the Senate Homeland Security Committee to investigate the attack on Trump.
The House Homeland Security Committee also asked the Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, to testify soon.
Xochitl Hinojosa, spokesperson for the Department of Justice, said in a statement Sunday that Attorney General Merrick Garland has canceled plans to travel to Nevada, Utah and Kansas this week to meet with local law enforcement and speak at the National Bar Association. Hinojosa said Garland will stay in Washington, D.C., to closely monitor the investigation of the attempt on Trump’s life.
“The Attorney General continues to receive regular briefings regarding the attack at former President Trump’s rally,” Hinojosa said. “This morning he met with Department personnel and partners from across government.”
ABC News’ Josh Margolin, Pierre Thomas, Luke Barr and Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden on Sunday repeated calls for national unity in the wake of Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“Last night I spoke with Donald Trump. I am sincerely grateful that he’s doing well, and recovering. We had a short but good conversation. Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers,” he said, speaking about the assassination aftermath before reporters gathered the White House Roosevelt Room.
“An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as — as a nation, everything. It’s not who we are as a nation. It’s not American. And we cannot allow this to happen,” he continued.
“Unity is the most elusive goal of all, but nothing is important than that right now, unity. We’ll debate and we’ll disagree, it’s not– that’s not going to change. But it’s going to — we’re going to not lose sight of the fact who we are as Americans,” he said.
He cautioned against speculation about the shooter’s motive, saying it wasn’t yet known.
And he said he had ordered an independent review of how security was handled at the political rally in Pennsylvania and would be speaking to the nation Sunday night. The White House said his address from the Oval Office would be at 8 p.m. ET.
Biden, who was flanked by Garland, Mayorkas and Vice President Kamala Harris, did not take questions.
He had been briefed shortly before in the White House Situation Room by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI director Christopher Wray, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle.
Biden has had to tread carefully since news of the Trump shooting first broke because not only is he president — but also a candidate and Donald Trump’s political opponent.
He must show he’s in command of the crisis as well amid growing questions about his mental and physical fitness for the job.
Informed shortly after the shooting happened, he initially put out a statement — after some basic facts became known — saying he was “grateful” that Trump was “safe.”
He then made hastily arranged remarks to reporters and the nation on live television — saying he had tried to phone the former president — whom he notably called “Donald” — condemning the attack and calling for unity.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick. It’s sick. It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country,” he said.
“But the idea, the idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this, is just unheard of, it’s just not appropriate. We – everybody, everybody must condemn it,” he said.
He then quickly changed plans and flew back from Delaware to the White House.
When he arrived at Joint Base Andrews, it was notable how close Biden’s top Secret Service agent was to him as he stepped off Air Force One, staying just a few steps away as the president walked down the steps.
Typically, Biden makes it to the bottom of those steps before his security detail steps off the plane.
Lafayette Park, directly in front of the White House, remained closed Sunday morning as the Secret Service posture was notably heightened around the White House.
Sunday afternoon, the White House said said Biden was rescheduling his planned Monday trip to Austin, Texas, where he was set to deliver the keynote address at a commemoration for the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at the LBJ Presidential Library.
(BUTLER, P.A.) — As the investigation into the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump intensified Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service was coming under scrutiny as questions mounted on how the alleged gunman managed to fire a barrage of shots from the rooftop with a vantage point of the outdoor Pennsylvania rally stage Trump was speaking from.
The FBI identified the suspected gunman as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel, Pennsylvania, whom officials said was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired up to eight shots before a Secret Service sharpshooter shot and killed him, law enforcement officials told ABC News.
The suspect appeared to be wearing a T-shirt and tan camouflage shorts that blended into the colors of the building he was perched atop.
Watch the ABC News special, “Trump Assassination Attempt Minute by Minute,” Sunday at 8 p.m. ET
The firearm recovered at the scene of the assassination attempt was legally purchased by the suspect’s father, an urgent trace conducted by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) found, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
Federal investigators said they have found no links between the suspect and any international terrorist group. Investigators said they’re still looking into whether the suspect had any ties to domestic terrorist groups.
The suspect had no U.S. military affiliation, according to the Pentagon.
Investigators are also combing through the suspect’s social media footprint for clues, officials said.
Investigators are looking at what sources describe as misinformation the suspected gunman appeared to have been recently consuming and whether it played any role in the incident, according to law enforcement sources. So far, investigators have not uncovered any ties to extremist organizations or individuals, though they continue to scour information from the suspect’s phone and other digital devices, the sources said.
Trump posted on his Truth Social site that he suffered a bullet wound to his right ear in the attack.
Trump was less than 10 minutes into his campaign speech and had turned his head to look at a jumbotron when the gunfire began, according to witnesses and video of the moment. Video captured the former president reaching for his ear and going to the ground as multiple shots could be heard.
A man who was attending the rally was fatally shot and two other rallygoers were shot and wounded, federal officials said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro identified the deceased victim as Corey Comperatore. The other names were not immediately released.
Authorities found items of concern inside the shooter’s vehicle parked outside the Trump rally, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Bomb technicians and other experts were called to investigate but there is no immediate word on what the suspicious items were or whether they were potentially harmful. Officials are awaiting information as to what the items were and whether they contained explosives.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Overnight, investigators said they executed a warrant at Crooks’ home.
The roof where the suspect fired from had been surveyed during security preparations for the event, a law enforcement source told ABC News.
The roof was empty during those security preparations, the source said.
It remains under investigation why the Secret Service or local law enforcement didn’t post someone at the building to prevent anyone from accessing the roof.
Secret Service denies report it rebuffed Trump team request for beefed-up security
The former president, who was wearing a Make America Great Again hat, was seen in a video clutching his right ear and going to the ground as several Secret Service agents rushed to cover him with their bodies and people in the crowd also ducked for cover.
Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, posted a statement on X on Sunday disputing media reports that the Secret Service rejected a request from Trump’s campaign team to supply additional security resources.
“There’s an untrue assertion that a member of the former President’s team requested additional security resources & that those were rebuffed. This is absolutely false. In fact, we added protective resources & technology & capabilities as part of the increased campaign travel tempo,” Guglielmi wrote.
Some senators call for investigation of Secret Service
“I call on you to launch a full, public and comprehensive committee investigation into this assassination attempt and failures to adequately protect the president,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said in a letter released Sunday formalizing a call for the Senate Homeland Security Committee to investigate the attack on Trump.
The House Homeland Security Committee also asked the Secret Service director, Kimberly Cheatle, to testify soon.
ABC News’ Josh Margolin, Pierre Thomas, Luke Barr and Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.
Donald Trump was rushed off stage during an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday after an assassination attempt on the former president.
Secret Service agents swarmed Trump and ducked behind the podium. Blood could be seen on his right ear of Trump as agents surrounded him and led him off the stage to a waiting vehicle to whisk him away.
Trump is “fine,” a spokesperson said. The alleged shooter is dead. One spectator is dead, while two are in serious condition, according to officials.
Gun traced to shooting suspect’s father, was legally purchased
The firearm recovered at the scene of the Trump assassination attempt was legally purchased by the suspect’s father, an urgent trace conducted by ATF found, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
The shooter was identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
The suspect had no apparent military affiliation.
Authorities found items of concern inside the suspect’s car, which was parked outside the Trump rally, law enforcement sources told ABC News. Bomb technicians and other experts were called to investigate, but it is unclear if the items were suspicious or potentially harmful, the sources said.
RNC still ‘on track’
Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming said there are no changes, as of now, to the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“I don’t see a situation where there are massive changes. We haven’t heard anything yet. We haven’t been told anything that’s going to change,” Schimming said on “Upfront,” a show aired on WISN-TV, an ABC affiliate station.
“Everything I’ve heard so far is we’re still on track: vice presidential nomination on Wednesday night, of course, the presidential on Thursday,” he said.
Milwaukee Police Department Chief Jeffrey Norman expressed confidence in security for the convention.
“This is a national special security event. There’s no higher security that you can have for this type of event,” Norman said. “It’s important that we have that reassurance to our community, to those who are being participants, that we got this.”
When asked whether Saturday’s shooting prompted concerns about new protests, Norman said, “At this time, no, because we’re all prepared, in regards to the engagement between our law enforcement partners and also our partners in the community. We’re working out a lot of different plans.”
-ABC News’ Tommy Barone and Oren Oppenheim
Melania Trump releases statement
Former first lady Melania Trump released a statement Sunday morning, saying, “When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron’s life, were on the brink of devastating change. I am grateful to the brave secret service agents and law enforcement officials who risked their lives to protect my husband.”
“A monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine attempted to ring out Donald’s passion — his laughter, ingenuity, love of music, and inspiration,” she said. “The core facets of my husband’s life — his human side — were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and carrying man who I have been through the best of times and the worst of times.”
“When the time comes to look beyond the left and the right, beyond the red and the blue, we all come from families with the passion to fight for a better life together, while we are here, in this earthy realm,” she said.
She closed, “Dawn is here again. Let us reunite. Now.”
“The winds of change have arrived. For those of you who cry in support, I thank you,” she went on. “I commend those of you who have reached out beyond the political divide — thank you for remembering that every single politician is a man or woman with a loving family.”
-ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh
Security looked at roof during preparations, source tells ABC News
The roof where the suspected gunman fired shots at former President Donald Trump had been surveyed during security preparations for the event, a law enforcement source told ABC News.
The roof was empty during those security preparations, the source said.
As reports of suspicious activity came in, a search was initiated, the source said. It was unclear how the suspect climbed onto the roof to quickly get off shots before a Secret Service counter-sniper located and killed him, the source said.
Officials continue on Sunday to investigate whether the dead suspect was connected to domestic extremists, the source said. The early investigation turned up no ties to international terrorism, the source said.
-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas and Luke Barr
Hawley formalizes request for Senate Homeland to investigate attack
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., formalized his calls for the Senate Homeland Security Committee to investigate the attack on Trump in a letter to committee Chairman Gary Peters Sunday morning.
“I call on you to launch a full, public, and comprehensive committee investigation into this assassination attempt and failures to adequately protect the president,” Hawley wrote.
Because Republicans are in the minority in the Senate, Peters, D-Mich., is required to call a hearing for it to proceed.
Mike Pence condmens political violence
Former Vice President Mike Pence issued an updated statement Sunday morning condemning political violence.
“Karen and I thank God that President Trump is safe and recovering following yesterday’s attempted assassination and are grateful for the swift response by Secret Service that undoubtedly saved lives. We are praying for his full recovery and for those lost and injured in this horrific attack. There is no place in America for political violence and it must be universally condemned,” he wrote in a post on X.
-ABC News Kelsey Walsh
Johnson says ‘we’ve got to turn the rhetoric down’
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday called on Americans to “turn the rhetoric down” following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“This is a horrific act of political violence. It ought to be roundly condemned. Obviously, we can’t go on like this as a society,” Johnson said on NBC News’ “Today.”
“We’ve got to turn the rhetoric down. We’ve got to turn the temperature down in this country. And we need leaders of all parties on both sides to call that out.”
-ABC News’ Justin Ryan Gomez
Netanyahu: ‘Assassination attempt on American democracy’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Trump a quick recovery on Sunday.
“This isn’t just a crime, it’s an assassination attempt on American democracy,” he said while speaking before a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
-ABC News’ Victoria Beaulé
Bethel Park School District confirms suspected gunman was an alum
The Bethel Park School District confirmed on Sunday that the suspected gunman was a graduate of Bethel Park High School and graduated with the Class of 2022.
“The school district wishes to express its sincere wishes for a speedy and full recovery for Mr. Trump and for those in attendance at the Saturday event who may have been physically harmed or emotionally impacted by these tragic events. We offer special condolences to the family of at least one attendee who was killed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time,” the district said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Sasha Pezenik
Internal Trump campaign memo asks staff to avoid offices, says 24/7 armed security will be enhanced
In an internal Trump campaign memo sent to staff, and obtained by ABC News, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita ask staff to avoid the campaign offices in D.C. and West Palm Beach and say they’re enhancing the armed security presence with 24/7 officers on site.
Wiles and LaCivita said the Republican convention will continue as planned and asked staff not to comment publicly on what occurred.
“We condemn all forms of violence, and will not tolerate dangerous rhetoric on social media,” they said in the memo.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders
Trump calls for Americans to ‘stand United’ after shooting
Former President Donald Trump on Sunday called for Americans to “stand United” after an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally left one person dead.
It was “God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening,” the former president said in a post on the Truth Social platform. Trump previously said he was struck in the ear by a bullet.
Trump added, “In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.”
-ABC News’ John Santucci and Kevin Shalvey
RNC security plans to be reexamined, senior official says
Officials on Sunday will be reexamining security plans for the Republican National Convention to determine whether any changes need to be made in light of Saturday’s assassination attempt, a senior federal official told ABC News.
The convention is scheduled to begin Monday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Security details could be altered ahead of the event, including the number of agents and snipers deployed to the locations used by people under U.S. Secret Security protection.
Officials may also decide whether events outside the convention perimeter should be canceled, moved or have enhanced security measures.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky, Josh Margolin and Pierre Thomas
Trump’s daughter decries ‘political violence’
Former President Donald Trump’s daughter Tiffany said that “political violence is never the answer,” as she thanked members of the Secret Service and law enforcement for “fearlessly” intervening on Saturday.
“Please include the families of the victims in your prayers,” she said on social platform X. “As you saw today, my father is a fighter and he will continue to fight for you and the USA.”
The former president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said in a separate statement on social media that the shooting should “get the same attention” as the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim and Kevin Shalvey
Suspect was registered as Republican voter, state records show
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspect in Saturday’s shooting, was registered as a Republican voter, according to Pennsylvania records.
-ABC News’ Charlotte Slovin
‘Thought they would search the houses,’ resident near Trump rally shooting says
A Butler County resident whose house is one of the closest properties to the scene of the Trump rally shooting said she was surprised that the Secret Service did not search her home ahead of the event.
“I thought that would be something that they would do since I live so close,” Carol Kerr, 82, told ABC News by phone early Sunday morning.
Kerr’s house on Meridian Road is roughly a quarter of a mile from both the stage where the former president was speaking on Saturday and the location where the shooter is believed to have been firing from.
“I thought they would search the houses that are as close as mine is,” Kerr said. “At least check them out and see if you have anything in your house which is dangerous, which I don’t.”
-ABC News’ Jared Kofsky
FBI identifies suspected shooter
The FBI early on Sunday identified the suspected gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI,” an FBI spokesperson said.
-ABC News’ Luke Barr and Jack Date
Suspect did not have ID, testing DNA for confirmation
While law enforcement said at a press conference late Saturday that they believe they know who carried out the shooting, they are still not naming the individual.
Officials said they are also doing DNA testing, because the suspected shooter did not have ID.
“It’s a matter of doing biometric confirmations,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said. “So, there was no identification on the individual, for example, so we’re looking at photographs right now and we’re trying to run his DNA and get biometric confirmation.”
The shooter’s name will be released once there is an official confirmation, he said.
Trump arrives in New Jersey
Trump arrives at Newark Liberty International Airport just after midnight early Sunday.
He arrived in Newark about six hours after the shooting took place.
Trump had been scheduled to spend the night at his club in Bedminster prior to the shooting taking place.
Shooter believed to be a ‘lone wolf’: Law enforcement source
Authorities believe they have an identification on the suspected shooter, but are not yet releasing a name “as it is a very sensitive point in the investigation,” according to a law enforcement source.
Early indication is that this is a lone wolf, the source said, but the situation is fluid and the investigators want to be absolutely certain that this person had no support and that no one knew what was coming.
The gunman opened fire with a rifle from the roof of a building about 200 to 300 yards away from the stage where Trump was speaking. A U.S. Secret Service counter-sniper team immediately killed the individual.
Trump leaves Butler area
Trump left the Butler, Pennsylvania, area just after 11 p.m., according to Gov. Josh Shapiro.
“Under the protection of US Secret Service and with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police, former President Trump has now left the Butler area,” Shapiro said. “Lori and I are thankful that his team reports that he is fine and we continue to wish him a full and speedy recovery.”
The former president left the area about five hours after the shooting took place.
Trump’s plane took off from Pittsburgh, but a destination was not released.
Biden spoke with Trump: White House official
President Biden spoke with Trump, a White House official told ABC News.
Biden also spoke with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy, the official said.
-ABC News’ Mary Bruce
Male shooter was killed by Secret Service counter-sniper: Source
The suspected shooter was a man and was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
His identity hasn’t been immediately confirmed.
FBI Director Christopher Wray briefed Biden and the national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to the source.
-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas
Biden returning to the White House from Delaware
The president will be departing from his home in Delaware and return back to the White House tonight, officials annouced.
Biden is expected to arrive at 12:30 a.m., the White House said.
Incident officially being investigated as assassination plot: Senior official
The shooting at the Trump rally is officially being investigated as an assassination plot on Trump, a senior defense official told ABC News.
Early evidence indicates that there was only one shooter, according to the source.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania; and the Department’s National Security Division will be involved in the investigation.
“My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack,” he said in a statement. “We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy. The Justice Department will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.”
-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas
Trump looking forward to joining RNC in Milwaukee, campaign says
The Trump campaign released a statement indicating the former president will be attending the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week.
“As was communicated earlier this evening, President Trump is doing well and grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their fast action,” the campaign said.
“President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States,” they added.
-ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa
‘Toughest man I have ever met’: Eric Trump
Trump’s son Eric told ABC News that his father is the “toughest man I have ever met” without elaborating on the former president’s condition.
-ABC News’ John Santucci
‘I love you Dad, today and always’: Ivanka Trump
Ivanka Trump released a statement on X thanking supporters for their thoughts and prayers for her father and the victims of the shooting.
“I am grateful to the Secret Service and all the other law enforcement officers for their quick and decisive actions today. I continue to pray for our country. I love you Dad, today and always,” she said.
1 dead, 2 critically injured at rally: Secret Service
One spectator was killed and two were critically injured during the incident at the Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump rally, the Secret Service said in a statement.
“US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased. US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated,” the agency said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Luke Barr
Shooter fired as many as 8 rounds from AR-style rifle: Sources
The shooter fired as many as eight rounds from an AR-style rifle while perched on a rooftop adjacent to the venue, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
The shooter was 200 to 300 yards away at the time of the gunfire, the sources said.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Trump says bullet hit him in the ear
Former President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he was shot “with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” during the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“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,” he said.
Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for the rapid response and extended his condolences to the family of the person who was killed and the other person who was injured.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country,” he said.
‘We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured’: Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement on X stating that she has been briefed about the shooting at the Trump rally.
“Doug and I are relieved that he is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting,” she said.
“We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence,” the vice president added.
Bill Clinton condemns attack at rally
Former President Bill Clinton released a statement on X stating “violence has no place in America.”
“Hillary and I are thankful that President Trump is safe, heartbroken for all those affected by the attack at today’s rally in Pennsylvania, and grateful for the swift action of the U.S. Secret Service,” he said.
1 spectator killed, 1 seriously injured: Butler DA
One rally spectator was killed and another was injured during the incident, Butler County District Attorney Richard A. Goldinger told ABC News.
“The second individual who was removed is in serious condition,” he said.
Goldfinger said the suspected shooter was on an adjacent roof outside of the rally. He was not sure how the shooter was taken down.
‘No place in America for this kind of violence’: Biden
President Biden condemned the shooting at the Trump rally and called on other Americans to do the same.
“The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this, is just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate,” he said at a news conference.
Biden said he was trying to get ahold of Trump, who he called Donald, on the phone and wanted to talk to him.
“There is no place in America for this violence. It’s sick,” he said.
Security increased at Trump Tower, other NYC locations
Security is being increased across New York City following a possible assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, officials said.
Out of an abundance of caution, the NYPD is increasing its presence across the city, including at Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street, Foley Square and City Hall.
There is no threat or connection to New York City at this time.
“Whatever your politics, we should all be able to agree that violence is wrong and we should be able to disagree peacefully,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
Biden campaign to halt TV ads
The Biden campaign said it will halt all ads for the presidential race.
“The Biden campaign is pausing all outbound communications and working to pull down our television ads as quickly as possible,” a campaign spokesman said.
-ABC News’ Gabriella Abdul-Hakim
Biden to deliver remarks
The White House announced that Biden will shortly deliver remarks with regards to the shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania.
Trump doing OK at local medical facility: Source
Former President Trump is getting treatment at a local medical facility and is doing OK, a law enforcement source told ABC News.
This will be “investigated as an assassination attempt until it is not,” according to the source.
-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas
Donald Trump Jr. says he’s spoken with his father
Former President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, told ABC News he has spoken to his father who remains at the hospital.
He said his father is “in good spirits” as he remains under observation adding that his father is “never gonna stop.”
-ABC News’ John Santucci
Biden condemns shooting at Trump rally, praying for former president
President Joe Biden said in a statement that he was being briefed about the shooting.
“Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it,” he said.
“I’m grateful to hear that he’s safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information,” the president added.
