Pennsylvania - Former US President Donald Trump was subjected to a failed assassination attempt in Pennsylvania during an election rally.

Video footage showed members of the Secret Service and police escorting Trump to a car as he raised his fist in the air. The video footage showed blood on his ear and snipers on a roof near the podium on which Trump was standing.

Trump was rushed off stage with blood dripping on his face after gunshots rang out at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the sniper, identified by the FBI as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was killed by Secret Service agents. Two spectators were in serious condition.

"This evening we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump," Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge, said at a late-night press conference in Butler. The FBI has not released the motive in the attack.

Trump said he was shot in the ear and an email sent out late Saturday night from his campaign team quoted him saying, "I will never surrender."

Secret Service Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that Crooks fired multiple shots toward the stage at approximately 6:15 p.m. Crooks had been positioned on a rooftop more than 100 yards from the rally site.

Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said law enforcement is following up on a “number of suspicious occurrences” including accounts from witnesses who said they tried to flag police about the activity of a person outside the rally moments before the shooting.

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“It is surprising,” Rojek said when asked about the alleged gunman’s close vicinity to the rally. He said the gunman's proximity is among the details that will come out in the investigation. Rojek added: “The Secret Service really needs to answer that question. They conduct the initial site survey.”

Trump reached for his ear as the gunfire erupted. Attendees at the rally began screaming as agents pushed Trump to the ground.

The former president was removed from the site by Secret Service, with his fist raised. Steven Cheung, Trump's spokesperson, confirmed in a statement that the former president is "fine" but had seen doctors at an area medical facility.

A Secret Service posting on social media confirmed that agents “neutralized” the assassin and that he was dead. Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle from the scene. A male innocent bystander at the rally was killed, the FBI confirmed.

The former president said in a statement that “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country."

Gunman identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks

The man who shot former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania political rally has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks.

"The FBI has identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the subject involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on July 13, in Butler, Pennsylvania," the Bureausaid i a statement. "This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is encouraged to submit photos or videos online at FBI.gov/butler or call 1-800-CALL-FBI."

Crooks was killed by law enforcement officials moments after he opened fire.

Crooks was registered as a Republican and was in active voting status, according to the database service LexisNexis. He appears to have attended Bethel Park High School, graduating in 2022.

−Christopher Cann and Aysha Bagchi

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