The world was shocked by an attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired several rounds, striking Trump in the ear. According to his spokesperson, Steven Cheung, the 78-year-old Trump is “fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility.”
The weapon used in the attack was an AR-15 rifle, a firearm known for its controversial history in the US. The AR-15, part of the “modern sporting rifle” category, was initially manufactured by ArmaLite in the 1950s and is commonly used in competitions and hunting. However, it has also been associated with some of the deadliest mass shootings in recent US history.
Notable Incidents Involving AR-15 Rifles
- Robb Elementary School Mass Shooting (May 2022): Nineteen children and two teachers were killed by 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, who used two AR-15 rifles he had purchased shortly after his birthday. This attack marked the deadliest school shooting in the US in a decade.
- Colorado Theater Shooting (2012): James Holmes killed 12 people during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. Holmes had purchased four guns in preparation, including an AR-15 rifle. He sat among the audience before opening fire, resulting in 10 immediate deaths.
- Jacksonville Shooting (2022): Ryan Christopher Palmeter, 21, killed three Black individuals at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. Palmeter carried a handgun and an AR-15-style rifle adorned with swastikas. He later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
