Investigation into Trump assassination attempt continues as victims identified

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Former President Donald Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt Saturday at a Pennsylvania rally, days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. A barrage of gunfire set off panic, and a bloodied Trump, who said he was shot in the ear, was surrounded by Secret Service and hurried to his SUV as he pumped his fist in a show of defiance. As of Sunday morning, law enforcement officials confirmed to The Associated Press that bomb-making materials were found inside the vehicle of the man suspected in the shooting. There were also bomb-making materials found at his home.The two officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.President Joe Biden held a news conference on Sunday afternoon where he expressed condolences to the deceased victim’s family. He said the assassination attempt is “contrary to everything we stand for as a nation.”He also directed the probe into the attack to be “thorough and swift” and asked the public not to “make assumptions” about a motive. Biden also announced he will address the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday night and ordered an independent review of security measures following the assassination attempt.What to knowThe former president released a statement on social media.The shooter was killed by the Secret Service.The victim killed in the shooting was identified as Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, Pennsylvania. The two injured victims are 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, PA. Both of the men injured are listed in stable condition. The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the shooting.The shooting is being investigated as an attempted assassination of the former president. The FBI has assumed the role of the lead federal law enforcement agency in the investigation.The FBI has not yet identified a motive for the assassination attempt. The Trump campaign and RNC say the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will proceed after the rally shooting, and that Trump looks forward to joining.President Joe Biden said “everybody must condemn” the attack. The White House said Biden spoke to Trump after the shooting incident.It was the former president’s last rally before the Republican National Convention opens Monday in Milwaukee.Butler County is located about 46 miles outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. FBI director says rally shooting investigators ‘will leave no stone unturned’FBI Director Christopher Wray says authorities “will leave no stone unturned” in their investigation of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.In a call with reporters Sunday, Wray called the shooting an “attack on democracy and our democratic process.”“An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate can only be described as absolutely despicable and will not be tolerated in this country,” Wray said.Local police officer encountered shooter before he fired towards Trump, AP sources sayNot long before shots rang out, rally goers noticed a man climbing to the top of a roof of a nearby building and warned local law enforcement, according to two law enforcement officials.One officer climbed to the roof and encountered Crooks, who pointed his rifle at the officer. The officer retreated down the ladder and Crooks quickly took a shot toward former President Donald Trump, and that’s when the U.S. Secret Service counter snipers shot him, said the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.Trump says he’ll be traveling to Milwaukee for GOP convention on Sunday afternoonFormer President Donald Trump says he’ll travel to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Republican National Convention.Trump said on his Truth Social platform that he was going to delay his trip after Saturday’s apparent assassination attempt, but decided he cannot “allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else.”Biden directs probe into Trump rally shooting to be ‘thorough and swift’President Biden said he’s directed an independent review of the security at the rally Saturday where a gunman apparently tried to assassinate Donald Trump.Biden said he has also directed the U.S. Secret Service to review all security measures for the Republican National Convention which begins Monday in Milwaukee.Biden urged Americans not to make assumptions about the motive of the shooter, who was killed by U.S. Secret Service. He said they’re working swiftly to investigate the incident.“Unity is the most elusive goal of all,” he added, while urging the public to strive for it.Biden said he’ll address the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. following the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump at a political rally.Biden spoke briefly Sunday afternoon saying he and Jill Biden were praying for the family of the person killed at the rally and that he was sincerely grateful that Trump is “doing well and recovering.”“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence, or any violence for that matter,” Biden said.Man slain in Trump rally shooting remembered as ‘a stand-up guy’Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township volunteer fire company, called Corey Comperatore “a stand-up guy” and “a true brother of the fire service.”He said Comperatore served as chief of the company for about three years but was also a life member, meaning he’d served for more than 20 years.“Just a great all-around guy, always willing to help someone out,” Reamer said of Comperatore, who’s survived by his wife and two daughters. “He definitely stood up for what he believed in, never backed down to anyone. … He was a really good guy.” Comperatore was a former fire chief from the area who loved his family, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said.“Corey died a hero. Corey dove on his family to protect them last night,” the governor said.The two men injured were identified as as 57-year-old David Dutch, of New Kensington, PA, who is currently listed in stable condition, and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, PA. He is also listed in stable condition.The governor also ordered flags to be flown at half staff in Comperatore’s honor.Law enforcement: Bomb making materials found in vehicle, at home of man suspected in Trump rally shootingLaw enforcement officials tell The Associated Press bomb-making materials were found inside the vehicle of the man suspected in the Trump rally shooting. There were also bomb-making materials found at his home. The officials also said investigators believe the weapon was bought the father of Thomas Matthew Crooks, who’s been identified as the shooter, at least six months ago.The officials said federal agents were still working to understand when and how Crooks obtained the gun and gather additional information about him as they worked to try to identify a possible motive. The investigation is focused on Crooks. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.The shooter’s family is cooperating with federal investigators, according to an FBI official.Relatives of Crooks have not returned multiple messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.Trump and Melania release statementsOn Sunday morning, Trump released a new statement on his platform Truth Social, saying, “Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness. Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”Former first lady Melania Trump released a statement on her X account late Sunday morning as well.”To the families of innocent victims who are now suffering from this heinous act, I offer my sincerest sympathy,” the statement said.Click here to see the full statement on X.

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