KATHMANDU: Thomas Matthew Crooks, identified by the FBI as the suspected shooter targeting former US President Donald Trump, was a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred during a rally in Pennsylvania, where Secret Service agents swiftly responded to the gunfire, escorting Trump offstage and transporting him to safety in New Jersey. Trump later described being hit in the "upper part" of his right ear by a bullet, noting immediate bleeding and a realization of what had transpired.
The FBI has categorized the shooting as an assassination attempt and confirmed an active investigation into the matter. Pennsylvania police have reassured the public that there are no ongoing threats following the suspect's fatal shooting by Secret Service officers at the scene. Additionally, one bystander was killed during the incident, and two others sustained critical injuries, all of whom were identified as male.
Law enforcement sources revealed that Crooks was armed with a rifle and fired shots from an elevated position several hundred meters away from the rally venue. Reports indicated that the gunfire may have originated from a single-story building adjacent to the stage where Trump was speaking. Witnesses recounted chaotic scenes as the shots rang out, with some individuals observing suspicious activity on the building's roof before alerting police.
President Joe Biden responded to the event by denouncing the violence and highlighting the inappropriateness of such acts in American culture. Before leaving Delaware for Washington, Biden had talked with Trump and offered his support in the wake of the incident. The shooting occurred as Trump, vying for re-election against Biden, addressed supporters in a critical swing state ahead of the upcoming election.
Political officials from all parties joined Biden in condemning the attack, emphasizing the significance of togetherness, and opposing political violence. While Mike Pence, the former vice president of Donald Trump, voiced worry for his recuperation, former President Barack Obama underscored the harm that political violence does to democracy. International leaders denounced the attack and reaffirmed their support for democratic values, among them Prime Ministers of Japan Fumio Kishida and the United Kingdom Keir Starmer.
Political tensions have increased as a result of the event, with some Republicans blaming Biden for supposedly inciting fear in the wake of Trump's political aspirations. There are talks taking place on Capitol Hill, and the head of the Secret Service will soon be called in for more examination of the event's security protocols.
