Trump assassination attempt: Attacker was reportedly rejected by school rifle team
Donald Trump
Former United States PresidentDonaldTrumpsurvived an assassination attempt which he described asa "very surreal experience". The 78-year-oldTrumpwas hit in the ear by a gunman at a campaign rally on Saturday (Jul 13). "I'm not supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be dead,"Trumpon Sunday told the New York Post in an interview aboard his plane en route toMilwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
The 20-year-old man, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by the Secret Service agents immediately. Accused of attempting to assassinate Trump, the gunman had previously tried to join his high school's rifle team, however, he was rejected for being a "terrible" shot, media reports revealed.
Crooks had explosives in his car, US media reported Sunday, as investigators probed the attempted assassination of the Republican presidential candidate. The Wall Street Journal and CNN said that explosive materials were found in a car belonging to the shooter, which was reportedly parked near the campaign event venue in Butler, Pennsylvania.
FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek told reporters Sunday that the gun used in the attempted assassination of former US president Donald Trump was an "AR-style 556 rifle" that was purchased legally. The FBI said that authorities believe the semi-automatic weapon was bought by the shooter's father, but do not yet know how he accessed the weapon or whether he took it without his father's knowledge.
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While speaking with ABC News, Jameson Myers, said that Crooks was a poor marksman at school. Myers said that Crooks tried to join the high school's rifle team but was rejected and asked not to come back after a "pre-season" session. Myers was a school friend of Crooks.
"He didn't just not make the team; he was asked not to come back because of how bad of a shot he was; it was considered dangerous," Myers said as quoted.
Watch: Gravitas: How did the Secret Service fail to protect Trump?
A team member who spoke to ABC News under anonymity said that there was a belief that Crooks "wasn't really fit for the rifle team". Meanwhile, the school system said that Crooks' membership in the rifle team was not documented.
ABC News stated that Crooks "never appeared on a roster" according to the school system. Interestingly, Crooks belonged to the Clairton Sportsmen's Club, a local shooting club. According to the team member's statement, "He also shot terrible," the media outlet reported.
(With inputs from agencies)