The 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a campaign rally flew a drone over the area about two hours before the former US president began to speak, the FBI director said Wednesday. This event has shocked the nation and raised significant concerns about security measures at political rallies.
FBI chief Christopher Wray, testifying before a congressional committee, also said the investigation into the July 13 shooting had not yet revealed a motive for the gunman. The lack of a clear motive has left many puzzled, as authorities continue to search for answers.
Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump with an AR-style assault rifle shortly after 6:00 pm as the Republican White House candidate was addressing a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. The rally, which had drawn a large crowd of supporters, quickly turned into a scene of chaos and fear.
Crooks, who was perched on the roof of a nearby building, was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper less than 30 seconds after firing his first shots. The swift action by the Secret Service undoubtedly prevented further casualties, but the incident has nonetheless sparked a debate about the preparedness and effectiveness of security measures at such events.
Trump was wounded in the ear, two rally attendees were seriously injured, and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter was shot dead. The firefighter, who had attended the rally off-duty, is being hailed as a hero, and his death has added a somber note to the tragedy.
US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday, a day after acknowledging that the agency had failed in its mission to prevent the assassination attempt. Her resignation has intensified scrutiny on the agency, with many questioning how such a lapse could have occurred.
Wray said Crooks flew a drone over the rally area for around 11 minutes — between around 3:50 pm and 4:00 pm — on the day of the shooting, some 200 yards away from the stage where Trump was scheduled to speak. The drone’s presence, unnoticed at the time, is now a critical piece of evidence in the investigation.
The drone and its controller were recovered in the gunman’s car. Two “relatively crude” explosive devices were also found in the car along with another at the gunman’s residence, Wray said. The discovery of these devices has raised further alarm about Crooks’ intentions and capabilities.
The FBI director said the devices had the ability to be detonated remotely, and the gunman had a transmitter with him when he was shot. “It looks like, because of the on-off position on the receivers, that if he had tried to detonate those devices from the roof, it would not have worked,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean the explosives weren’t dangerous.” The potential for additional harm underscores the severity of the threat posed by Crooks.
Asked how many shots Crooks fired, Wray said eight cartridges had been recovered on the roof. This detail has highlighted the quick response of the Secret Service sniper, who neutralized the threat within moments.
Wray told members of the House Judiciary Committee that investigators “do not yet have a clear picture of his motive.” “We’re not seeing that yet, but we are digging hard, because this is one of the central questions for us,” the FBI chief said. The search for a motive is a top priority as investigators seek to understand what drove Crooks to such a violent act.
He said the gunman “appears to have done a lot of searches of public figures, in general,” but “there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason to it so far.” “Starting somewhere around July 6 or so, he became very focused on former president Trump and this rally,” Wray said. This shift in focus has become a key point in the investigation.
“On July 6, he did a Google search for quote, ‘How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?’” he said, a reference to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald. This search has raised chilling comparisons to one of the most infamous political assassinations in history.
There is no evidence at this time that Crooks had any accomplices or co-conspirators, the FBI chief said. The investigation continues to probe Crooks’ background and actions leading up to the shooting.
In the aftermath of the incident, there has been a nationwide call for enhanced security measures at political events. Law enforcement agencies are reviewing protocols and looking for ways to prevent such incidents in the future. The public, still reeling from the attack, is demanding answers and assurances that such a breach of security will not happen again.
The shooting has also reignited the debate over gun control in the United States. Many are questioning how Crooks was able to obtain an AR-style assault rifle and why such weapons are readily available. Advocates for stricter gun laws are using this incident to push for legislative changes, while opponents argue that existing laws should be better enforced.
As the investigation progresses, more details about Crooks’ background and possible motivations may come to light. For now, the nation remains on edge, grappling with the implications of the attack and mourning the lives lost and affected by the violence. The FBI and other agencies are committed to uncovering the full story and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
