Video - Fatal Shot: Trump Survives Rally Assassination Attempt

Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old kitchen aide, shot former U.S. President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. The Secret Service shot Crooks dead at the scene. Crooks, from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, had no military background and was identified via DNA and facial recognition. Although a registered Republican, Crooks had also donated $15 to a Democratic group. He graduated from Bethel Park High in 2022 and the Community College of Allegheny in 2024, with high honors in engineering. Trump was hit in the ear and briefly hospitalized before returning home. The FBI is treating the incident as an attempted assassination and found suspicious devices in Crooks’ vehicle. Authorities are investigating his motives and whether others were involved. Crooks' father expressed shock, and former classmates described him as a loner who faced bullying but excelled academically. One person, Corey Comperatore, died protecting his family, while two others were injured. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $340,000 for the victims' families. Trump posted on Truth Social, describing his injury and thanking his security team. A witness reported seeing a man with a rifle, confirmed to be an AR-15, from which the shots were fired. The Secret Service agent killed Crooks after he opened fire. Analysts highlighted the close call, noting the bullet's energy could have been fatal if it had hit Trump differently.