The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified the suspect who shot ex-President Donald Trump as Matthew Crooks.
Twenty-year-old Crooks was killed after he shot at Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. One other rally attendant was killed and two others were severely wounded from the shootings.
The FBI has now described the attack as an assassination attempt on Mr Trump, saying the gunman fired multiple shots, CNN reports.
Mr Trump was briefly treated at the hospital after the incident with the former president saying he was shot at the “upper part of my right ear.”
Both President Joe Biden, and ex-President Barack Obama had condemned the attack
Mr Biden, who was in Delaware during the shooting, has also spoken to Mr Trump, the White House said.
Obama wrote on X that there “is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy.” He said he was “relieved that former President Trump wasn’t seriously hurt.”
It is unclear how the shooting will impact the November US presidential election that sees Mr Trump locked in a close race with Mr Biden of the Democratic Party.
Trump is popular among conservatives and right-wing voters and has repeatedly campaigned against immigration and vowed to deport thousands of illegal immigrants.
Biden, 81, who is currently the Democratic Party candidate, supports a more inclusive society and has created pathways for illegal immigrants without crime records to become American citizens.
He faces internal criticism from his party following concerns about his cognitive ability, especially after a poor debate performance against Trump.
Although there have been calls from some Democrats that he should drop from the race, the president has said he would not and would defeat Trump in the election.
CNN
