Authorities in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, are downplaying an initial assessment by the Trump Administration that a shooting spree in the capital city last week was an act of terrorism.
Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said Thursday friends and relatives of Ahmed Aminamin El-Mofty describe him as depressed, and he's believed to have acted alone during the Friday shooting that left a Pennsylvania State trooper shot.
Last Saturday, Tyler Houlton, acting director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, characterized the shooting as a "terror attack" in a statement posted to Twitter. Houlton went on to criticize how El-Mofty was granted citizenship through extended family chain migration.
Marisco said investigators have not connected the Egyptian immigrant to any organized terror group or terrorist activity. The 51-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen has no prior criminal record, police said.
"Mr. El-Mofty, at this point in time, acted alone, and we believe there is no further threat," Marisco said.
Police shot and killed El-Mofty about a mile from where the shooting began near Pennsylvania's State Capitol building. Authorities say they found two propane tanks on El-Mofty's person — one in a fanny pack and one near the car.
Marsico says the divorced El-Mofty was said to be depressed over lack of contact with his family and had money problems. He's unsure what motivated El-Mofty.
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The trooper was treated for what Marsico called a slight wound.
The prosecutor's preliminary finding suggests police were justified in shooting El-Mofty.