The gunman had reportedly extensively studied the location
Donald Trump is rushed offstage after an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, US on July 13, 2024. © Getty Images / Anna Moneymaker
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who tried to kill former US President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at a farm grounds in Pennsylvania last Saturday, flew a drone over the site several times beforehand, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
The would-be assassin managed to get aerial footage of the venue hours before the attack on July 13, anonymous law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told the WSJ. Crooks apparently launched the craft more than once at the location.
The shooter likely began investigating the site shortly after the event was announced earlier this month. Crooks reportedly registered for the rally on July 7 and visited the grounds a few days later.
He is also said to have extensively searched the Internet for dates of other Trump rallies, officials said.
The clues uncovered thus far, however, give no conclusive picture of the motive for the attack, with Crooks also said to have searched for information on Joe Biden and the upcoming Democratic convention scheduled for next month.
The WSJ report raises further questions about lackluster security at the Trump event and the actions of the Secret Service, tasked with protecting the ex-president.
Trump narrowly escaped death during the attack. The gunman managed to take at least six shots at the Republican candidate before being killed by a counter-sniper team’s return fire. Trump walked away from the assassination attempt with a bullet having grazed his ear. One rallygoer was killed and two were critically wounded by the shooter.
