Donald Trump’s ‘gunman’ named after barrage of fire from ‘elevated position’

The man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump has been named. The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the gunman.

Kevin Rojek, the FBI officer in charge, said they have not identified a motive. He called the shooting “an assassination attempt on our former president.”

The shooter was shot dead by the Secret Service just moments after apparently firing five or six rounds. The suspect is believed to be from Pennsylvania.

A barrage of gunfire sparked chaotic scenes. A bloodied Mr. Trump was surrounded by Secret Service agents and rushed to his SUV while pumping his fist in a show of defiance.

Law enforcement found an AR-style rifle at the scene, it said. That weapon is a light semi-automatic rifle.

The Secret Service said the gunman attacked from an elevated position outside the show on a farm where the rally was held. Donald Trump has broken his silence to say a bullet “pierced” part of his ear when he was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

His campaign said the Republican nominee was “fine” after the shooting, which he said pierced the top of his right ear.

“I immediately knew something was wrong as I heard a whoosh, gunshots and immediately felt the bullet tear through the skin. There was a lot of bleeding,” he wrote on Truth Social.

When the first shot was fired, Mr Trump said “oh” and raised his hand to his right ear and looked at her, before turning away. Others in the stands ducked as screams echoed through the crowd.

Someone near the microphone could be heard saying “Get down, get down, get down, get down!” Agents piled over Mr. Trump to shield him with their bodies.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was “a miracle that Donald Trump escaped an assassination attempt”. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “While we thank him for his safety, we are once again reminded of the tragic fragility of democracy in the face of violence and irrationality.

“Our thoughts are with the president and the Trump family.”