The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has named Thomas Matthew Crooks as the gunman who fired shots at the rally of former President Donald Trump.
According to the FBI, Crooks is a 20-year-old male from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
“Take a look at what happened…” he said, his words cut off by four shots in quick succession.
Trump grabbed his right ear as repeated shouts of “Get down!” were heard, before a fifth and sixth shot.
The former president crouched down behind the lectern as Secret Service agents moved in around him. Screams were heard in the crowd.
Within four seconds, further shots were fired, prompting more supporters to get down while additional agents rushed to the stage.
Seventeen seconds after the first shots, a final pop was heard, and a woman screamed.
Three heavily armed members of the security forces moved onto the stage 22 seconds after the shooting started.
Secret Service agents swiftly shared instructions — such as “We’re clear” and “Let’s move” — before they lifted up a dishevelled Trump.
Visible once more around one minute after the gunfire started, Trump said, “Let me get my shoes”, as the agents formed a ring around him.
It’s another 13 seconds until Trump raised his fist to the crowd, who responded with cheers.
As the former leader was ushered off the stage, his MAGA cap in hand, onlookers chanted, “USA!”.
Trump paused briefly to pump his fist in the air, before stepping off the stage.
Immediately before disappearing into an SUV and just two minutes after the assassination attempt started, Trump raised his fist once more and turned briefly towards the crowd.
As the car pulled away, heavily armed security forces dressed in khaki fatigues moved onto the scene.
Trump says ‘felt the bullet’
Trump gave his first account of the shooting at 8:42 p.m., posting on his Truth Social site.
“I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear,” Trump wrote.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”
“The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania,” the bureau said on Sunday.
Biden and other world leaders condemned the attack
US President Joe Biden offered his first remarks after the shooting at a Donald Trump rally in the state of Pennsylvania.
“The idea that there’s political violence or violence in America like this is just unheard of. It’s just not appropriate. And everybody, everybody must condemn it,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the shooting as “concerning and confronting”, expressing his relief that Trump was safe.
“There is no place for violence in the democratic process,” he added.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has added his voice to a chorus of world leaders denouncing the attempted assassination of Trump.
“We condemn this act of terror and reaffirm the positions of the State of Palestine, which has always rejected violence, terrorism, and extremism, regardless of its source,” Abbas said in a statement cited by the Palestinian Wafa news agency.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry also issued a similar statement condemning the attack and wishing the former US president a speedy recovery.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “sickened” by the shooting.
“It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable. My thoughts are with former President Trump, those at the event, and all Americans,” he wrote.
French President Emmanuel Macron wished Donald Trump a “speedy recovery”, calling the assassination attempt on the former US president “a tragedy”.
“This is a tragedy for our democracies. France shares the shock and indignation of the American people,” Macron said on social media platform X.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday he was “appalled by the shocking scenes” at the rally and offered Trump his “best wishes”.
“Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack,” the British leader wrote.