A fellow shooting range attendee shares disturbing insights into the perpetrator's actions and mindset in the weeks preceding the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who allegedly attempted to assassinate former President Trump, practiced his shooting skills at a western Pennsylvania gun range just weeks before the attack. The revelation, shared by Bill Jenkins, who witnessed Crooks' prowess firsthand, adds a chilling dimension to the investigation.
Jenkins, a 62-year-old Air Force veteran, was practicing next to Crooks at the Keystone Shooting Center in Cranberry on June 22. He recalled the instructor extolling Trump's virtues during the session, which may have stoked Crooks' determination.
Shocking Details Emerge About Trump Shooter's Preparation at Gun Range
"It turns out the instructor and I are Trump supporters," Jenkins said. "We talked about how our country was good under Trump. Our borders were secure, the economy was strong, we were energy independent, and he got things done. I noticed at the time that the kid wasn't saying anything one way or another, but I could see him smirking."
In hindsight, Jenkins believes Crooks was concealing his animosity towards Trump, and that the conversation may have inadvertently motivated his attack. "It's crossed my mind – did that conversation help push him over the edge?" he said. "It freaks me out a little because a person has died."
Shocking Details Emerge About Trump Shooter's Preparation at Gun Range
Despite his young age, Crooks demonstrated advanced shooting skills on the range, according to Jenkins. "When we went to the range, he started shooting straight away," he said. "It seemed like he had experience with weapons."
Crooks' accuracy was further evidenced by Jenkins' observation of his target strike at a significant distance. "I congratulated him on how good he'd done, and he just laughed," Jenkins said.
Shocking Details Emerge About Trump Shooter's Preparation at Gun Range
The revelation of Crooks' shooting practice raises questions about potential planning and preparation for the assassination attempt. Investigators are examining his background and seeking a motive for the attack.
Meanwhile, Jenkins faces an emotional turmoil as he grapples with the realization that he was unknowingly in the presence of a potential assassin. "I was sitting next to evil," he told The Sun. "I haven't been able to sleep thinking about it."
Shocking Details Emerge About Trump Shooter's Preparation at Gun Range
The incident highlights the dangers of radicalization and the need for vigilance in identifying potential threats to public figures. The ongoing investigation is expected to shed further light on the factors that led to the assassination attempt and the measures that can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
