Surveillance footage captured Thomas Matthew Crooks casing Trump's rally hours before deadly assassination attempt, revealing meticulous planning and potential second shooter rumors unfounded.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released a trove of new evidence, including chilling surveillance footage, detailing the extent of Thomas Matthew Crooks' premeditation and reconnaissance mission ahead of the July 13 Trump rally assassination attempt.
According to Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office, Crooks engaged in "a sustained detailed effort to plan an attack on some event," diligently monitoring potential targets.
FBI Releases Chilling Video of Trump Shooter Reconnaisance Mission
In early July, when Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was announced, Crooks became "hyper-focused" on it. Despite lacking a clear political ideology, he meticulously researched both Biden and Trump's schedules.
Over the month leading up to the attack, Crooks conducted over 60 internet searches related to Biden and Trump. Notably, in late September 2023, an account associated with Crooks queried former President Trump's campaign schedule and upcoming appearances in Pennsylvania.
FBI Releases Chilling Video of Trump Shooter Reconnaisance Mission
On July 6, Crooks searched for specific details about Trump's event in Butler. The searches included inquiries about the distance between Oswald and Kennedy in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the exact location of Trump's podium, and photographs of the Butler Farm Show.
On July 13, the day of the rally, Crooks was observed walking outside the rally perimeter at 4:26 p.m. Surveillance footage from a local business captured him scaling an American Glass Research (AGR) building and traversing rooftops between 6:05 and 6:08 p.m.
FBI Releases Chilling Video of Trump Shooter Reconnaisance Mission
Contrary to previous rumors, the FBI confirmed that Crooks spent only six minutes on the roof before the shooting, refuting claims of a second shooter.
Prior to the rally, Crooks also flew a drone for 11 minutes, which may have provided valuable information on the event's security measures. However, the FBI emphasizes the difficulty of determining the exact motivation behind the drone flight.
FBI Releases Chilling Video of Trump Shooter Reconnaisance Mission
While the FBI has not established a definitive motive for Crooks, they have noted the possibility of co-conspirators with advanced knowledge of the attack. Further investigations are ongoing to identify any potential accomplices.
The FBI continues its investigation, seeking to fully unravel the sequence of events leading up to the assassination attempt. The bureau encourages anyone with information to come forward and assist in their efforts to uncover the truth and ensure justice is served.
FBI Releases Chilling Video of Trump Shooter Reconnaisance Mission
