BUTLER, Pa. — Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press bomb-making materials were found inside the vehicle and home of the man suspected in the shooting at former President Donald Trump's rally Saturday.
Trump was the target of an apparent assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. A barrage of gunfire set off panic, and a bloodied Trump, who said he was shot in the ear, was surrounded by Secret Service and hurried to his SUV as he pumped his fist in a show of defiance.
Law enforcement officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly, told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity bomb-making materials were found inside the vehicle of the man suspected in the Trump rally shooting. There were also materials found at his home.
The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. The range from which Crooks fired and his clothing led to early speculation that the shooter had military experience.
However, all the branches of the military searched their records Sunday and said in response to a query by The Associated Press that they had no records of him serving.
“We’ve confirmed with each of the military service branches that there is no military service affiliation for the suspect with that name or date of birth in any branch, active or reserve component in their respective databases,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.
