The FBI identified the assassin as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, hours after a bullet grazed former US President Donald Trump's ear during a campaign event in pennsylvania on Sunday, sending shockwaves around the nation.
"The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President donald trump on July 13, in Butler, pennsylvania," the bureau stated in a statement.
A picture of the juvenile attacker has now been made public by the investigating agency. The 20-year-old is seen grinning at the camera while sporting spectacles in the picture.
Crooks fired several bullets at the former US president at the protest from a neighbouring rooftop before being shot down by Secret service snipers. Witnesses said they attempted to alert security personnel about a guy they saw moving about the area, resting on his stomach, and pointing a pistol at the protest.
Near his corpse was an AR-15 assault weapon.
Crooks, who was described as a "quiet, lonely" kid, graduated from Bethel Park High school in 2022 and was given a $500 "star award" by the National Math and Science Initiative.
He was a registered Republican, and this would have been his first presidential election vote, which would have taken place on november 5.
In addition to calling him "socially reserved" and saying they don't remember him talking about politics or trump, his classmates also said he was frequently tormented at school. Though he was reserved, he was being tormented. He endured a great deal of bullying," a pupil told local US media.
He had been working at a nursing home since graduation.
The "suspicious device" that was discovered inside his car after the incident is currently being examined by bomb specialists. Authorities are currently looking through his phone.