In a shocking development, authorities have identified the gunman responsible for the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that occurred yesterday. The FBI has named Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the individual involved in the attack. Despite the identification, investigators are still working to understand Crooks's motives and how he managed to get so close to Trump.

The attack took place in Butler, a small city in western Pennsylvania, approximately 40 miles from Crooks’s hometown. The FBI has confirmed that the investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing.

Crooks, a registered Republican, is noted to have donated money to a liberal voter turnout group in 2021, adding complexity to the investigation. The violent episode resulted in the death of one spectator and critically injured two others.

Eyewitnesses reported that Trump had just begun discussing immigration during his speech when the shooting started. The first burst of fire included three shots, followed by a second burst of five shots. Amidst the chaos, Trump was seen with blood on his face as he was being escorted off the stage. Despite the danger, he remained defiant, pumping his fist as the crowd chanted, "U.S.A."

Secret Service agents swiftly moved in to protect Trump, but not before he signaled them to wait, showing his resilience in the face of the attack.

In response to the assassination attempt, President Joe Biden has urged for universal condemnation of the incident. He expressed his intention to speak with his 2024 presidential rival soon, underscoring the seriousness of the attack and the need for unity in addressing such violence.