FBI names ‘subject involved’ in Trump ‘assassination attempt’: Live updates

Donald Trump’s campaign managers said they will be employing additional security measures after he was shot at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, reported CNN.

Campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita sent staffers a memo saying they “remain horrified” and “hope that this horrendous act will bring our team, and indeed the nation, together in unity and we must renew our commitment to safety and peace for our country”.

“We condemn all forms of violence, and will not tolerate dangerous rhetoric on social media.”

The memo also said that the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee will continue as planned, “where we will nominate our President to be the brave and fearless nominee of our Party”.

“In moments of tragedy and horror, we must be resolute in our mission to reelect President Trump.”

FBI is “working feverishly” to establish the identity of the suspect, Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office said.

At a press conference in Butler, Pennsylvania, he said: “We have intelligence analysts as well, working from our field office in Pittsburgh, working feverishly to attempt to identify the individual who did this and any motives behind why this was done.”

He added that law enforcement had found suspicious packages around the area where the gunman was found, but bags left behind by attendees were also being treated as explosive devices. The location of the rally was still being treated as an active crime scene.

“We are close to identification. As soon as we are 100 per cent confident in who an individual is, we’ll share it with the press,” he said.

“With that being said, also, we do not currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that it had identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the “subject involved” in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, reported Reuters.

Spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement on X: We are grateful to the Secret Service team and our law enforcement partners for their swift action. Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this tragedy.”

“During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13th at approximately 6:15 p.m., a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.

“US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated.

“One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured. The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of investigation.”

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Tammy Baldwin and California Governor Gavin Newsomwere among those denouncing “political violence” after a bloodied Trump was rushed from the stage by Secret Service agents on Saturday.

Pennsylvania Democratic Senator Bob Casey said that violence was “never acceptable” and urged those on the ground at the rally to listen to law enforcement.

“I am monitoring the situation at President Trump’s rally in Butler and I’ve reached out to the State Police to offer support,” he wrote on X. “Political violence is never acceptable and I am hoping former president Trump & all attendees are safe. Everyone in Butler should listen to law enforcement.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X: “I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country.”

Mike Bedigan has the full story…

Joe Biden landed at Joint Base Andrews, about 30km from the White House, after cutting short a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

The White House said that both the president and vice president Kamala Harris will receive a briefing from Homeland Security and law enforcement officials on the assassination attempt on Trump at his rally.

Video posted by Margo Martin, deputy director of communications for Donald Trump, showed the former president leaving his plane at Newark Liberty International Airport, flanked by members of the US Secret Service.

Trump will spend the night at his private golf club in nearby Bedminster, New Jersey, reported AP.

Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office, said it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire multiple shots at Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Asked if law enforcement only discovered the gunman was on the roof when he began firing, Rojek responded: “That is the assessment at this time.”

“We’re still working through the security apparatus that the Secret Service had in place, what potentially happened,” he added.

“There’s going to be a long investigation into exactly what took place and how the individual was able to get access to the location, what type of weapon he had. All that is really days, weeks, and months of investigation.”

The authorities said in the press conference that the victims of the shooting have been identified, but the details will not be publicly shared yet.

The shooting left one man attending the rally dead, and two critically injured. The gunman was also shot and killed by Secret Service agents.

Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed that all three were adult men.

“We have notified a number of family members, but they have not had an opportunity to notify extended family,” he said.

The FBI is, meanwhile, working on identifying the gunman through “doing biometric confirmations”. The suspect reportedly did not carry any identification on him.

Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said: “We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy.”

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said he is “relieved” Trump is safe after a shooting, calling the incident an “inexcusable attack”.

“There is no place for violence in the democratic process. I am relieved to hear reports that former president Trump is now safe,” he said.

“We must lower the temperature of debate – there is nothing to be served by some of the escalation of rhetoric”.

Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva posted a statement on X, saying: “The attack against ex-president Donald Trump must be repudiated vehemently by all defenders of democracy and politics.”

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán said his “thoughts and prayers” were with Trump “in these dark hours”.