What to know about the AR-15, the style of gun used in Trump assassination attempt
James PowelFormer President Donald Trump was shot at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania Saturday, surviving an assassination attempt.
One person was killed and two others were "critically injured," the Secret Service said.
Thomas Matthew Crook, 20, was identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the shooter. He was killed at the scene and an investigation into motive remains ongoing.
USA TODAY reported that an AR-15-style rifle was used in the assassination attempt. CNN reported Sunday that the gun was used to identify Crooks.
Here's what we know about the weapon used in the assassination attempt.
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What is a semi-automatic rifle
A semi-automatic firearm, which includes AR-15-style rifles, is a weapon where the shooter must pull the trigger to fire, but the next round is automatically loaded into the chamber, according to Northeastern University.
An automatic weapon allows a shooter to fire multiple rounds when the trigger is pulled.
AR-15 popular weapon in US
The AR-15, manufactured by Armalite, became one of America's most popular guns after the end of the Assault Weapons Ban in 2004.
About 1 in 20 U.S. adults owned an AR-15 in 2023, according to the Washington Post. The Post found that the weapon was used in at least 10 of the 17 deadliest mass shootings in America.
The gun has been featured in video games and media, including the popular Call of Duty franchise.
AR-15 range
The effective range of an AR-15, where an average shooter can hit a vehicle-sized target, is between 400-600 yards, according to a survey of gun review sites. The range will be affected by the skill of the shooter, the caliber of round used and environmental factors.