President Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office at 8 p.m. ET as the FBI and Secret Service continued to investigate the possible motive of the gunman who opened fire during former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was killed by a Secret Service sniper after grazing the former president’s ear, leaving one bystander dead and two critically wounded.
Authorities discovered rudimentary bomb-making material at Crooks’ residence and in his vehicle, shedding light on his potential intentions. Reports indicated that Crooks was a member of a gun club and had tried out for the high school rifle team but failed to make it. The FBI is currently exploring whether Crooks was a politically motivated homegrown domestic violent extremist, delving into his background to uncover his motive. Justice Department officials confirmed that investigators had obtained Crooks’ phone and were analyzing it at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia.
Eyewitnesses spotted Crooks shortly before the shooting and alerted authorities to his presence. The sheriff of Butler County recounted how a local police officer was lifted by another officer to observe the roof of the building where Crooks was positioned. Crooks aimed his rifle towards the officer, causing him to release his hold and fall. Subsequently, Crooks discharged six to eight rounds towards the Trump rally using an AR-style weapon from approximately 400 feet away from the podium.
In response to the incident, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and credited divine intervention for averting a potential catastrophe. President Biden remained updated on the situation by top administration officials and prepared to address the nation from the Oval Office, ordering an independent review of the rally’s security protocols. He also instructed the Secret Service to review security measures for the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be nominated as the party’s candidate.
Despite the security concerns raised by the rally shooting, the Secret Service affirmed that there were no plans to alter the security arrangements for the upcoming convention. Trump and President Biden engaged in a conversation described by a White House official as “good, short, and respectful” on Saturday night, emphasizing the need for unity and cooperation in the face of such tragic events.
