Washington [US], July 15: "The FBI has not yet determined a motive, although our investigators are working tirelessly to determine this," FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek told reporters on July 14. US authorities identified the suspect as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, and believe he acted alone, The Guardian reported.
The FBI said it was investigating the shooting at the Trump rally as a potential act of domestic terrorism - defined as an act committed in the United States intended to intimidate, coerce, or influence government policy.
Marcie Grimm, director of Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pennsylvania , confirmed that Crooks worked as a nutrition assistant at the facility. She said Crooks always did a good job and had a clean record. Meanwhile, a high school classmate described the suspect as quiet, kind, good at math and not one of the students considered to have violent tendencies.
FBI officials said they have reviewed the suspect 's social media accounts but have so far found no threatening posts. A representative for Discord , a social media platform popular with gamers, said the suspect had an account but was inactive and had not discussed political ideology or plans for attacks.
The lack of a clear motive for the suspect raises more questions about the shooting, and it is predicted that it will be difficult for authorities to come to a conclusion soon.
ABC News on July 14 quoted multiple police sources as saying that the gun found at the scene of the assassination of former President Donald Trump belonged to the suspect's father and was purchased legally.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper