By Jerald Jimenez
15 Jul 2024, 11:51 AM EDT
Following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, whose author was shot down by the Secret Service, the FBI issued a statement to report that an investigation is being launched to determine a possible act of domestic terrorism.
The agency said investigators are working to determine the sequence of events, as well as the movements of the shooter, identified as Thomas Crooks. To do so, the FBI is gathering evidence and has conducted interviews to follow up on leads.
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office team has searched Crook’s residence in Bethel Park, a Pittsburgh suburb. They have also searched his car, which was located at the scene of the incident in Butler. Suspicious devices found at both locations have been neutralized by explosives experts and are being analyzed at the FBI laboratory.
The FBI has also begun an exhaustive analysis of the suspected shooter’s cell phone. The analysis is expected to provide valuable information for the investigation and help better understand the suspect’s actions and motivations.
“At this time, we have not identified any specific ideology associated with the suspect. However, I want to remind everyone that we are still in the early stages of this investigation,” said Kevin Rojeck, a special agent with the FBI, in statements reported by ABC News.
Donald Trump was shot in an assassination attempt during an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Secret Service agents surrounded the former president before leading him off the stage and into a waiting vehicle.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected shooter, was shot and killed at the scene, according to the Secret Service. One bystander, identified as Corey Comperatore, was killed and two were wounded, according to authorities. Investigators have begun retracing the suspect’s steps, in an attempt to figure out how Crooks could have gotten to the roof, which had been swept before the event.
With information from ABC News