The FBI revealed details of the attempted assassination of former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. The would-be assassin, Thomas Crooks, accessed the roof of a building near the rally by climbing up HVAC equipment and piping. He fired shots at Trump from a building owned by American Glass Research, located near the rally site. The attack left one man dead and two others wounded. Crooks purchased a ladder prior to the event, but did not use it during the assassination attempt.
Investigations into the incident revealed that Crooks had conducted internet searches related to current and former presidents leading up to the shooting. He signed up for the Trump rally on July 6 and researched the distance between Lee Harvey Oswald and President Kennedy during his assassination in 1963. Crooks’ interest in firearms began in 2023, and he made several online firearms purchases using an alias. He also bought materials to create explosive devices for which he used aliases.
Crooks’ father legally purchased the AR-15-style rifle used at the rally and transferred it to his son. Crooks also legally purchased ammunition on the morning of the event. On the day of the rally, Crooks flew a drone near the rally site before parking his vehicle and staying in the area for about 70 minutes before the shooting. Law enforcement noticed Crooks more than an hour before the shooting, but it is still unclear how he evaded security. The FBI is working to gather all the facts to determine Crooks’ actions.
The FBI has interviewed dozens of people who knew or interacted with Crooks to build a comprehensive profile. They have found that Crooks was highly intelligent, attended college, and maintained steady employment. While his motive for the attempted assassination remains unclear, investigators have not found any evidence of coconspirators or accomplices. Crooks’ social circle appears to have been limited to his immediate family, indicating that he had few friends or acquaintances.
Regarding the security measures at the rally, law enforcement spotted a suspicious person near the rally site about an hour before shots were fired. Snipers observed Crooks and his bicycle in the vicinity before the shooting began. Despite these sightings, Crooks managed to carry out the attack, killing one person and injuring two others. The FBI continues to work on developing a clearer timeline of the events leading up to the assassination attempt. Trump is expected to return to Butler for another rally in the future, but details have not been released yet.
