The shooter who attempted a shot at former US President Donald Trump at the Pennsylvania rally allegedly flew drones above the site of Trump’s speech, the Wall Street Journal reported. The new details that have emerged suggest that 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks flew the drone on a pre-programmed flight path to survey the grounds hours ahead of the ex-president’s speech.
The report said that the drone circled the location several times while Crooks observed the area and examined the event site. The planned route indicate that Thomas Matthew Crooks likely operated the drone multiple times to collect information about the event site. Crooks later made his way to a rooftop only about 430 feet away from where the Republican presidential candidate, 78, was speaking and fired at least six shots toward the former president.
Crooks started researching the rally site soon after the Trump campaign announced the event on July 3, registering for it on July 7. Subsequently, visited the farm show grounds a few days later for further examination.
Crooks then returned with two homemade bombs, designed to be remotely detonated using receivers similar to those found in fireworks. Investigators discovered these crude explosives in Crooks’ car parked near the grounds, along with a ballistic vest containing three 30-round magazines, indicating he planned to cause more significant harm, as the report by the WSJ noted.
This revelation also comes as other chilling information about the would-be assassin’s sinister attempt emerge. Recently, it was reported that Thomas Crooks had posted a chilling message on social media, carried images of both Donald Trump and President Biden on his phone, and had searched the dates for the Democratic National Convention and Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, making his sinister intentions clear before the assassination bid.
According to multiple media reports, the individual who climbed onto a roof and opened fire at a Pennsylvania campaign rally had posted a threatening message on the gaming platform “Steam,” stating, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.”
Investigators so far have examined the suspect’s technological devices, including cell phones and a laptop, and discovered this message. On reviewing the laptop, they found searches conducted in July for topics like Trump, Biden, the DNC convention schedule, and the July 13 Trump rally.
America’s top security officials relayed this information to senators recently. Senators were quoted as telling the media that none of the interviewees reported hearing the suspect discuss politics.
The suspect possessed two cell phones. The primary phone was recovered at the scene, along with a remote transmitter. A second cell phone, found at the suspect’s home, contained only 27 contacts. The FBI is currently in the process of locating and interviewing these individuals.
Multiple media reports also stated that Crooks visited a shooting range, stopped at Home Depot, and a gun store, where he purchased 50 rounds of ammunition and a 5-foot ladder ahead of the attack.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that the investigating authorities have put together an early portrait of the would be assassin who is believed to be an intelligent loner with an interest in guns and strangely away from the fences of politics.
The report said that the drone circled the location several times while Crooks observed the area and examined the event site. The planned route indicate that Thomas Matthew Crooks likely operated the drone multiple times to collect information about the event site. Crooks later made his way to a rooftop only about 430 feet away from where the Republican presidential candidate, 78, was speaking and fired at least six shots toward the former president.
Crooks started researching the rally site soon after the Trump campaign announced the event on July 3, registering for it on July 7. Subsequently, visited the farm show grounds a few days later for further examination.
Crooks then returned with two homemade bombs, designed to be remotely detonated using receivers similar to those found in fireworks. Investigators discovered these crude explosives in Crooks’ car parked near the grounds, along with a ballistic vest containing three 30-round magazines, indicating he planned to cause more significant harm, as the report by the WSJ noted.
This revelation also comes as other chilling information about the would-be assassin’s sinister attempt emerge. Recently, it was reported that Thomas Crooks had posted a chilling message on social media, carried images of both Donald Trump and President Biden on his phone, and had searched the dates for the Democratic National Convention and Trump’s Pennsylvania rally, making his sinister intentions clear before the assassination bid.
According to multiple media reports, the individual who climbed onto a roof and opened fire at a Pennsylvania campaign rally had posted a threatening message on the gaming platform “Steam,” stating, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.”
Investigators so far have examined the suspect’s technological devices, including cell phones and a laptop, and discovered this message. On reviewing the laptop, they found searches conducted in July for topics like Trump, Biden, the DNC convention schedule, and the July 13 Trump rally.
America’s top security officials relayed this information to senators recently. Senators were quoted as telling the media that none of the interviewees reported hearing the suspect discuss politics.
The suspect possessed two cell phones. The primary phone was recovered at the scene, along with a remote transmitter. A second cell phone, found at the suspect’s home, contained only 27 contacts. The FBI is currently in the process of locating and interviewing these individuals.
Multiple media reports also stated that Crooks visited a shooting range, stopped at Home Depot, and a gun store, where he purchased 50 rounds of ammunition and a 5-foot ladder ahead of the attack.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that the investigating authorities have put together an early portrait of the would be assassin who is believed to be an intelligent loner with an interest in guns and strangely away from the fences of politics.