Fact check: What do we know about the person/people who recently attempted to assassinate donald trump?

1. Summary of the results

The assassination attempt was carried out by Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The incident occurred during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, where Crooks fired from a rooftop position approximately 400 feet from the rally stage using an AR-15 style rifle that belonged to his father ^[1]. The attack resulted in one death and two critical injuries before Crooks was killed by Secret Service snipers ^{[2] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual details about the perpetrator have emerged:

• Crooks presented a complex political profile: he was registered as a Republican voter but had also donated $15 to a progressive PAC ^{[3] [5]}
• He worked as a dietary aide at a nursing home ^[3]
• He graduated high school in 2022 and had a history of being bullied and was considered an outcast ^{[3] [5]}
• The FBI is investigating the incident as potential domestic terrorism, though no clear ideological motive has been established ^{[1] [4]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself assumes a simple narrative about the assassination attempt, while the reality is more complex:

• Multiple sources confirm this was a single perpetrator, not multiple people as the question might suggest
• The incident should be distinguished from other Trump-related security incidents, such as the separate case involving Ryan Wesley Routh at Trump's golf club ^[6]
• While various media outlets might attempt to frame this through different political lenses, the available evidence suggests a complex situation that doesn't fit neatly into partisan narratives, as demonstrated by the shooter's mixed political activities ^{[3] [5]}
• The investigation is ongoing, and the FBI has not yet determined a clear motive ^{[1] [7]}, making any definitive claims about motivation premature