The father of the man who tried to kill Donald Trump has broken his silence.
Trump was targeted by a sniper while delivering a speech at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. A bullet grazed his right ear causing him to abruptly stop speaking and reach for his face before ducking for cover.
The crowd was thrown into chaos as loud bangs echoed around and blood could be seen trickling down the 78-year-old’s face. Additional shots were fired to “neutralize” the attacker, resulting in one death and two critical injuries among the attendees.
Video footage from the event shows Trump being protected by a group of Secret Service agents. The shooter, identified as 20 year old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by law enforcement officers from a rooftop 130 yards away.
His body was later found covered in blood.
Trump received medical treatment at a nearby hospital before being discharged and flown back to New Jersey that same evening. Crooks is being referred to as a “lone wolf,” but the FBI’s investigation into his motives and background continues.
Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, 53, said to CNN he is trying to figure out “what the hell is going on,” adding that he would “wait until I talk to law enforcement” before saying anymore.
Thomas Matthew Crooks comes from Bethel Parka – a quaint town in Pennsylvania about 40 miles from Butler where the rally took place. He is suspected of using an AR-style rifle to target Trump. Authorities recovered the weapon after Crooks was fatally shot.
During a press conference, FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said: “We’re looking at photographs right now and we’re trying to run his DNA and get biometric confirmation.”
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Its believed he positioned himself atop a roof of a nearby manufacturing facility, 130 yards from the stage where Trump was delivering his speech to the crowd of thousands.
Following the incident, Trump turned to Truth Social to give an update on his condition, revealing: “I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening.”
Expressing sympathy for the deceased gunman’s family, Trump also praised law enforcement’s rapid intervention. While addressing concerns, Trump’s campaign announced that he is “fine” and confirmed his appearance at a Milwaukee convention the following week.
Joe Biden has denounced the attack as “sick.” He said: “We cannot be like this, we cannot condone this. Everybody must condemn it.” After the incident, Biden cut short his weekend at Rehoboth Beach and returned to the White House to speak with Trump.
This is the first assassination attempt on a presidential candidate since President Ronald Reagan was shot and rushed into emergency surgery following in 1981.