FBI "Motivation Still Unknown"
Assault Rifle Recovered at the Scene
U.S. judicial authorities announced on the 13th (local time) that they are investigating the shooting at former President Donald Trump's campaign rally as an assassination attempt.
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is being protected by bodyguards immediately after a shooting incident occurred in Pennsylvania on the 13th (local time). [Photo by Getty Images]
Kevin Rojek, the agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh office, stated at a briefing in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the shooting occurred, that the incident was an "assassination attempt against former President Trump."
Agent Rojek explained that they have nearly identified the shooter but are not ready to disclose the identity until they are 100% certain, and that the motive remains unknown.
He added, "The shooter did not have identification, and we are analyzing his photo and conducting genetic testing."
Agent Rojek also said there was no threat information detected before the rally took place that day.
George Bivens, Chief of the Pennsylvania State Police, said the shooter's identity has been tentatively confirmed but more information is being analyzed. However, it has been confirmed that the shooter was male.
Chief Bivens stated that it is "too early" to conclude that the shooting was a lone act.
U.S. media, citing sources, reported that the shooter was a white male in his 20s residing in Pennsylvania.
In this regard, The New York Times (NYT) reported, based on multiple judicial officials, that an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle was recovered from the body of the white male who was shot dead at the Butler rally site in Pennsylvania. The AR-15 style rifle is known to be a civilian-modified version of the military M-16 rifle.
Accordingly, judicial authorities recovered the AR-15 assault rifle, a modified M-16 rifle, at the scene and are checking nationwide gun purchase records.
The Secret Service, responsible for former President Trump's security, announced in a press release that "around 6:15 p.m. on the 13th, during former President Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a shooting suspect fired multiple shots from a high position outside the rally venue toward the stage."
They continued, "Secret Service agents neutralized the shooter, who died, and one person watching the rally was killed, while two others were seriously injured."
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