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On July 13th, authorities identified Thomas Matthew Crooks as the individual behind the attack. Reports indicate Crooks purchased 50 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, typically associated with AR-15 style rifles, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He then traveled approximately 13 miles to Butler, where Trump was holding a rally.
Prior to the assault, Crooks was seen pacing suspiciously near the rally perimeter, acting unusually, which was captured on cell phone footage. Law enforcement, upon noticing a man with a backpack and a rifle in the vicinity, issued alerts and circulated images but he managed to disappear temporarily. Moments before Trump took the stage, law enforcement spotted him again—this time setting the stage for a confrontation.