Explosive devices were found inside the car of the gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump in an attack that killed at least one rally attendee and wounded several others.
The car, which belonged to 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was located not far from the rally venue in Butler, Pennsylvania, sources close to the investigation told the Wall Street Journal.
Investigators told the outlet that a number of additional suspicious packages were found in the shooter’s general location, prompting bomb squad teams to be dispatched to the area. Bomb squad teams were searching for suspicious packages and conducted a search of at least one vehicle on Saturday evening, while efforts remain underway as of Sunday afternoon.
CBS News captured footage of an Allegheny County bomb squad vehicle arriving at the suspected gunman’s home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania on Sunday.
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Crooks fired roughly 8-10 shots towards former President Trump shortly after 6:15 p.m. on Saturday. Trump was struck by a bullet that grazed his ear while at least one bystander, who has now been identified as former Buffalo Township fire chief Corey Comperatore, was killed after being struck in the head. Several other rally goers were injured, at least two of them critically.
The gunman opened fire from a rooftop located a little more than 100 yards from where Trump was speaking. Two snipers with an at this time unknown federal or state law enforcement agency neutralized Crooks almost immediately after he opened fire.
An “AR-style” rifle was recovered from the roof near the gunman’s body. The firearm belonged to the shooter’s father, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Secret Service has confirmed that the building Crooks fired from was outside the security perimeter. Investigators are also probing reports of bystanders seeing the gunmen and attempting to alert law enforcement in the moments leading up to the shooting.
Trump was treated at a Pennsylvania hospital for wounds to his ear before he was seen departing his private plane at Newark Liberty International Airport just after midnight.
Former President Trump steps off his plane in New Jersey, making his first public appearance just hours after surviving an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally. pic.twitter.com/5hK26tmYPC
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“Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers yesterday, as it was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening. We will FEAR NOT, but instead remain resilient in our Faith and Defiant in the face of Wickedness,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday morning.
“Our love goes out to the other victims and their families. We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win. I truly love our Country, and love you all, and look forward to speaking to our Great Nation this week from Wisconsin.”
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