Former President Trump survived an assassination attempt at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Gunshots rang out as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed his supporters, striking Trump and three others. One spectator was killed, and two were critically injured. The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a local resident.

Fast facts

• Former President Trump was shot at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 2024
• Trump ducked to the ground and was surrounded by Secret Service agents, who evacuated him from the scene. He later posted on Truth Social that a bullet “pierced the upper part of my right ear”
• Three spectators were hit by gunfire. One person was killed and two others critically injured, authorities said
• The FBI is investigating the shooting as an assassination attempt. The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks

The man authorities say attempted to assassinate former President Trump had explosives inside his car found parked near the Pennsylvania rally, according to a new report.

Law enforcement discovered the car, which was driven by Thomas Matthew Crooks, parked near the Trump rally in Butler, Pa., The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people briefed on the investigation.

The Journal said authorities dispatched bomb technicians after police received multiple reports of suspicious packages around near where the shooter was located.

Crooks reportedly shot Trump from a rooftop perch some 130 yards away during a rally in the small town, striking the upper part of Trump’s right ear while the former president was speaking to rallygoers ahead of next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

One attendee was killed, and two others were injured during the incident, the FBI said , and Crooks was shot dead. The victims have not been identified yet.

First pictures emerge of Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks

Thomas Matthew Crooks graduates from high school in 2022. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Thomas Matthew Crooks , the shooter who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania, has been pictured for the first time.

Crooks, a 20-year-old man from western Pennsylvania, reportedly shot Trump from a rooftop perch some 130 yards away during a rally in Butler, striking the upper part of Trump’s right ear while the former president was speaking to rallygoers ahead of next week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The New York Post obtained photographs of Crooks from his high school yearbook and 2022 graduation ceremony. 

U.S. Secret Service agents returned fire upon Crooks and killed him, but not before he got off several rounds directed at Trump. Three members of the crowd were struck, one killed and two others critically injured. 

Photographs taken from the scene of the shooting on Saturday show armed U.S. Secret Service agents standing over Crooks’ body after the assassination attempt. 

Former first lady Melania Trump speaks out after attempt on her husband’s life

Former first lady Melania Trump released a statement after the attempted assassination of her husband, former President Trump, at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. 

“I am thinking of you, now, my fellow Americans,” Trump wrote. “We have always been a unique union. America, the fabric of our gentle nation is tattered, but our courage and common sense must ascend and bring us back together as one.” 

“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 own lives to protect my husband.” 

Melania Trump offered her “sincerest sympathy” to the other victims, including the family of the person who died after being shot. 

“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. The core facets of my husband’s life – his human side – were buried below the political machine. Donald, the generous and caring man who I have been with through the best of times and the worst of times.” 

“Let us not forget that differing opinions, policy, and political games are inferior to love.” 

Split-second turn could have saved Trump’s life, expert says

A split-second decision could have saved former President Trump’s life during the shocking assassination attempt at his outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, according to Israeli Special Operations veteran Aaron Cohen.

Hours after the incident, Cohen told Fox News’ Trace Gallagher that, if the former president had not turned his head when the shot was fired, he would not have survived.

“God must have been watching down on the president,” he said.

“Snipers are typically trained to shoot into the cerebral cortex of the cerebellum at the top of the brain stem. It incapacitates you, it keeps your hands from moving… It’s about the distance of the shot. One hundred-thirty yards. That’s a putt. Anyone can put a two, two, three, optic on a target from that distance and hit it. It’s not a difficult shot to make…”

He continued, “It’s very clear to me that had the president’s head been straight, and if that round had gone into the ear, it would have been lights out. The fact that he just happened to be turned this way with that shot coming in is what saved his life.”

Story courtesy of Fox News