Trump's Shooter Acted Alone, Had No Indications of Any Mental Health Issues: FBI
According to authorities, the AR-style rifle used by the suspect was purchased by his father but it was not know yet whether he took the gun without his father's permission.
The suspected gunman at Donald Trump's Saturday rally was acting alone and used an AR-style rifle purchased legally to shoot at the former US President, said the FBI officials on Sunday. They also said that the suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks (20) showed no indications of any mental health issues.
The investigation is at an early stage, said the FBI officials, in a call with reporters. They also said that they had not yet identified an ideology associated with the suspect, reported Reuters. The official also said finding the motive behind the shooting was one of their priorities.
Former US President Donald Trump was holding a rally in the Butler area of Pennsylvania in the run-up to the presidential elections on Saturday when shots were fired and a bullet hit the Republican leader's right ear.
The US Secret Service agent acted swiftly and neutralised the killer while one person from the audience was killed in the shooting by the gunman and two others were injured.
The FBI said they were investigating the incident as a potential act of domestic terrorism.
It also said that it believed that Crooks had bomb-making materials in the car that he drove alone to the rally and acted alone, reported Associated Press.
According to authorities, the AR-style rifle used by the suspect was purchased by his father, as per the AP report and the investigators said they do not know yet whether he took the gun without his father's permission.
Crooks was seen wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a popular YouTube channel that regularly posts videos of its creator firing off handguns and assault rifles at targets that include human mannequins, reported AP.
The suspect's father, Matthew Crooks told CNN that he was trying to figure out "what the hell was going on" but would not speak about his son after he talked to law enforcement.
While investigators said that the political leanings of the suspect were not yet found, the records showed that he was registered to vote as a Republican, reported CNN.