Pennsylvania
What we know about the Trump rally shooting suspect: FBI names Pennsylvania man, 20
A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man was suspected to have been the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday, firing several shots and killing at least one spectator, federal and local law enforcement agencies said.
The FBI early on Sunday identified the suspect, who was killed at the scene, as Thomas Matthew Crooks, of Bethel Park.
Shots rang out a few moments after Trump stepped onto an outdoor stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. The suspect was firing from the roof of a building outside the security perimeter, taking aim from hundreds of feet away from the stage, law enforcement said.
One of the bullets struck Trump in his right ear, the former president said. The U.S. Secret Service said Trump was “safe.”
A screen grab captured from a video, shows a person who is believed to be the suspected gunman according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Hank Jenkins/Anadolu via Getty Images
A Secret Service counter-sniper opened fire and killed the suspect, the agency said. The scene was “chaotic” and “everything unfolded very quickly,” Bevins said.
Law enforcement officials took several hours to publicly identify Crooks as their suspect, saying at a press conference late Saturday that they believed they knew who carried out the shooting, but were refraining from naming the individual.
Law enforcement members from the Allegheny County Police Department, guard the perimeter of the home of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, July 14, 2024.
Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters
Officials had said during that press conference that they were using the suspect’s DNA to confirm his identity, because the suspect had not been carrying anything that would have identified him.
“It’s a matter of doing biometric confirmations,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said. “So, there was no identification on the individual, for example, so we’re looking at photographs right now and we’re trying to run his DNA and get biometric confirmation.”
Police tape outlines a perimeter near the home of 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, July 14, 2024.
Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters
It was too early in the investigation to say whether Crooks had been acting alone, Bivens said. Investigators were determining if anyone else had been involved, he said.
The FBI did not “currently have an identified motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to attempt to identify what that motive was,” Rojek said.
Crooks had been registered as a Republican voter, according to Pennsylvania state records.
As the FBI issued a statement early Sunday naming Crooks, a bureau spokesperson said the investigation remains “active and ongoing.” The FBI urged anyone with photos, videos or information to come forward.
ABC News’ Jack Date, Luke Barr, Isabella Murray, Mark Osborne and Charlotte Slovin contributed to this report.
Pennsylvania
It’s back: What is ‘senior assassin’ and why are Pennsylvania police warning against it?
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — As high school graduation season approaches, so does a rise in teens participating in a popular game known as “senior assassin.”
The Swatara Township Police Department is asking parents to speak with their kids about the risks associated with the game, where students try to “eliminate” each other by spraying each other with water guns or squirt bottles.
“The game is played outside of school hours and away from school property but has been reported to be causing disruptions and posing risks to participants and bystanders alike,” police wrote Tuesday in a news release.
READ MORE | What is the ‘Senior Assassin’ game?
The police department said there have been reports of students playing the game outside of local businesses and alarming the public.
There are online resources that advise students avoid private property and use brightly-colored water guns, police said, but not all students are following those rules.
Police said some students have used paintball guns, which can lead to injuries.
“We urge parents and guardians to speak with their children about the potential risks associated with participating in this game and to discourage them from taking part,” the Swatara Township Police Department wrote. “The safety of students and community members is our top priority, and we must work together to ensure a safe and respectful environment for everyone.”
Another Pennsylvania police department out of Bucks County, the Buckingham Township Police Department, said the game sometimes results in 911 calls reporting “armed subjects.”
“In case you are unfamiliar, Senior Assassin is a game that involves high school students ‘stalking’ and ‘shooting’ each other with water guns in an attempt to be the last senior standing,” Buckingham Township police wrote. “We have heard that some students are using Nerf guns or silly string. Think of this game as ‘hide and seek.’”
The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department also spoke out about the game back in 2023, warning that students sometimes use water pistole that could easily be confused for real firearms.
“This behavior, though intentionally innocent, could easily be perceived, reported, or confronted as suspicious behavior by unknowing persons and outcomes could have serious consequences,” the police department had said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | ‘Senior Assassination’ game among high schoolers concerns police in Lancaster County
While the Buckingham Township Police Department said it does not condone the game, it offered the following safety tips for students who might decide to play anyway:
- Do not use realistic-looking weapons; use clearly identifiable, brightly colored water guns.
- Do not wear masks or behave in ways that would make a reasonable person to believe you are a threat.
- Avoid trespassing on private property or playing in public spaces, especially at night.
- Immediately comply with any police officer’s instructions and stop playing if instructed to do so.
Pennsylvania
Monday is the last day to register to vote in this month’s primary election in Pennsylvania
Monday, May 4, 2026 7:08PM
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Monday the last day to register to vote in this month’s primary election in Pennsylvania.
If you haven’t registered yet, you can do so in person at your county election office, or at a PennDOT facility along with other government agencies.
The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 12th.
Those ballots must be received by your county elections office by 8 pm on May 19th which is primary day.
Polls will be open on May 19th from 7am until 8pm.
Pennsylvania has a closed primary system.
This means that Republican voters can vote only for Republican candidates and Democratic voters can vote only for Democratic candidates.
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