BETHEL PARK, Pennsylvania: The small Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park in Pennsylvania is reeling after the FBI named a young local man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, as the person who shot at Donald Trump during a campaign rally and shocked the nation.
Investigators believe that Crooks, armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, opened fire at the former president while he was addressing a crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania, leaving one audience member dead and two others wounded.
The 20-year-old kitchen worker was shot dead at the scene by a Secret Service sniper, officials said.
In his well-to-do hometown, however, neighbours are in shock, seemingly unable to grasp how a quiet young man is now accused in the shooting.
The FBI, for its part, said only that Crooks was the “subject involved in the assassination attempt on the former president and that an active investigation was under way.”
Thomas Crooks had not been carrying ID, so investigators used DNA and facial recognition technology to identify him, the FBI said.
He had a membership at a local shooting club, the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, for at least a year, the club confirmed to the BBC.
The vast club is based south of Pittsburgh and is “one of the premier shooting facilities in the tri-state area” of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. It has more than 2,000 members.
It has multiple gun ranges, including a high-power rifle facility with targets up to 171 metres away.
Law enforcement officials believe the weapon used to shoot at Donald Trump, an AR-style rifle, was purchased by Crooks’ father, according to investigators.
It is unclear how the weapon came into his son’s hands, although there is no suggestion the father had any inkling of what was to take place.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, two officers told an international news agency that Crooks’ father bought the weapon at least six months ago.
Authorities say that Crooks purchased a box of ammunition containing 50 rounds on the day of the rally, reports CBS, the BBC’s US news partner.
Police sources have also told CBS that he purchased a ladder at Home Depot before the shooting, although it is unclear if he brought it with him.
According to US media reports, Crooks was wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a YouTube channel known for its guns and demolition content. The channel has millions of subscribers featuring videos on different guns and explosive devices.
The day after the shooting, law enforcement sources also told CBS that suspicious devices were found in Crooks’ vehicle.
According to CBS, the suspect had a piece of commercially available equipment that appeared capable of initiating the devices.
Speaking to CNN, Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks, said he was trying to figure out “what the hell is going on” but would “wait until I talk to law enforcement” before speaking about his son.
Crooks’ family is cooperating with investigators, according to the FBI.
Citing three law enforcement sources, CBS has reported that his father called police after the shooting, although the nature of that call is still unclear.
Police sealed off the road to the house where Crooks lived with his parents. The search of the residence was completed on 15 July.
A neighbour told CBS that officers evacuated her in the middle of the night with no warning.
Bethel Park Police said there was a bomb investigation surrounding Crooks’ home.
Access to the area remains controlled, with a police vehicle blocking entry to the street in front of the house.
On Tuesday afternoon, yellow police tape could be seen strung up in front of the residence. The BBC had a clear view of the back of the residence, but could not see any movement inside.
Only residents have been allowed in or out of the street.
Law enforcement sources told CBS that they believe there was some degree of planning ahead of the shooting.
How much time was spent in that planning, however, remains the subject of an ongoing investigation.
Police believe Crooks acted alone, but are continuing to investigate whether he was accompanied to the rally.
One witness told the BBC that he had seen a man – believed to be Crooks - with a rifle on the roof of a building before Trump was shot.
“There are police running around. We’re telling them there’s a guy on the roof with a rifle,” Greg Smith told the BBC. “Secret Service is looking at us through binoculars, and I’m pointing right at the roof.”
Multiple videos appear to confirm that chain, with some showing rallygoer shouting at police.
Video footage obtained by TMZ shows the moment the shooting began.
The assailant opened fire with “an AR-style rifle”, officials have said.
His shooting position was approximately 443ft (135m) from Trump.
Law enforcement sources also told CBS that he was reported by a bystander and identified as a suspicious person by police, but that officers lost track of him before the shooting began.
A Secret Service sniper returned fire and killed the gunman, officials said.
Footage later shows armed officers approaching a body on the roof of the building.