The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the person who opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, the agency said in a July 14 statement.
The FBI update says investigators are treating the Butler rally shooting as an attempted assassination and potential domestic terrorism; the agency said the attack left one person dead and injured former President Donald Trump and other spectators.
According to the FBI, agents successfully gained access to Thomas Matthew Crooks’ phone and have completed searches of his residence and vehicle as part of the probe.
The FBI said investigators have conducted nearly 100 interviews and reviewed hundreds of digital tips, and that suspicious devices found at the shooter’s home and vehicle have been rendered safe and are under evaluation at the FBI lab.
Reporting from national outlets corroborated the FBI identification. CBS News reported the FBI named Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt, and NPR described the suspect as believed to have acted alone.
The FBI release notes the firearm used had been purchased legally and that, as of the agency’s statement, no motive had been publicly identified while the review of devices and interviews continues.
Political rallies and security planning are likely to be reviewed after the Butler attack; elected officials and campaign teams typically coordinate with local and federal law enforcement on venues and perimeter access, experts told reporters in immediate coverage.
The search for motive and any possible co-conspirators remains active. The FBI encouraged anyone with information to submit tips online or call its tip line.
For related coverage on political violence and security at public events, see reporting on recent incidents in the U.S.
Ted Cruz convention outburst and Minneapolis shooting downtown offer additional context on public-safety responses to violent incidents at political gatherings and public events.
Sources
- FBI — July 14, 2024 press release updating the Butler investigation, including that agents accessed the suspect’s phone and that the shooting left one person dead and others injured.
- CBS News — identification of Thomas Matthew Crooks as the shooter and reporting on evidence and online searches tied to the suspect.
- NPR — background reporting that the shooter was believed to have acted alone and coverage of the Butler rally attack.
- Associated Press — timeline and scene details from the July 13 Butler rally shooting.
