During recent testimonies, FBI director Christopher Wray disclosed that Crooks’ laptop contained a Google search made on July 6, asking, “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”
This search, along with other concerning online activities, has raised questions about Crooks’ mindset leading up to the attack.Crooks took a shot at Trump from roughly 450 feet away.
Kennedy assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald was a former US Marine who assassinated President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
Oswald fired three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, hitting Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally. Oswald took the fatal shot from around 260 feet away.
After the assassination, he fled the scene, later killing Dallas police officer J.D. Tippit when confronted.
Oswald was arrested in a theater shortly after and claimed he was a “patsy.” He was shot and killed by nightclub owner Jack Ruby two days later while in police custody.
The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone, although debates about possible conspiracies have persisted over the years.
Crooks’ devices being analysed
Authorities have been working tirelessly to analyse Crooks’ digital devices, including his cellphone and laptop.
Despite extensive searches revealing a history of violent interests and political figures, investigators have yet to determine a clear motive for the attack.
Crooks, a 20-year-old registered Republican, had conducted searches related to firearms, explosives, and even the Democratic National Convention in the days leading up to the rally, indicating a premeditated intent to harm.
On the day of the rally, Crooks was found to have searched for the rally location and a nearby gun store, suggesting he was preparing for the attack.
Law enforcement officials discovered over a dozen weapons and explosive devices at his home, further complicating the investigation. Despite the wealth of evidence, including over 14,000 images found on his phone, no definitive political or ideological motivations have been established.
The FBI’s ongoing analysis of Crooks’ electronic devices aims to piece together his actions and intentions.