The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released new details and the first images of weapons connected to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
According to Fox News, the FBI shared photos of the firearm used by Thomas Matthew Crooks, as well as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in his car trunk.
Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office, provided additional information about Crooks' activities leading up to the attack during a press call. While the FBI has not established a definitive motive or identified any co-conspirators, Rojek stated that Crooks had engaged in "a sustained detailed effort to plan an attack on some event" before focusing on Trump's rally.
In the weeks before the assassination attempt, Crooks conducted numerous online searches related to both President Biden and former President Trump. The FBI reported that Crooks made over 60 searches concerning the two political figures in the 30 days prior to the attack.
Rojek revealed that Crooks' online activity showed a pattern of researching campaign events for both Biden and Trump, with a particular focus on events scheduled in western Pennsylvania. On July 4, 2024, Crooks specifically searched for details about Trump's upcoming event in Butler.
As the date of the rally approached, Crooks' searches became more targeted. On July 6, he looked up specific information about the Butler event and made inquiries such as "How far was Oswald from Kennedy?" and searches related to the event's location and setup.
The FBI's investigation uncovered evidence of Crooks' surveillance efforts prior to the assassination attempt. On the day of the rally, Crooks was observed flying a drone for 11 minutes between 3:51 p.m. and 4:02 p.m.
Rojek explained the significance of this drone flight:
Our overall finding is the subject was only on the roof for approximately six minutes prior to the shooting. Between 6:05 and 6:11 p.m. The drone's flight path would have been helpful for our subject to assess the security posture at the event. However, we will never be able to determine the exact motivation for why the subject flew the drone. We can only do that based on our assessment of the flight path and what we're able to determine through our analysis by the lab.
Video footage from local businesses captured Crooks' movements on the day of the attack. He was seen walking outside the rally perimeter at 4:26 p.m., approximately an hour and a half before Trump was scheduled to speak.
The FBI released photos showing the weapons and explosives associated with Crooks' attack plan. These images included Crooks' semi-automatic rifle and backpack, as well as two explosive devices found in the trunk of his car.
Investigators also shared a photo of the air conditioning unit that Crooks used to access the roof of the American Glass Research (AGR) building. Video evidence showed Crooks climbing onto the roof and moving across multiple buildings between 6:05 and 6:08 p.m., just minutes before the shooting began.
Rojek emphasized that despite rumors, there was no evidence of a second shooter involved in the attack. The FBI's timeline places Crooks on the roof for only about six minutes before he was neutralized at 6:11 p.m.
The FBI's investigation into the Trump assassination attempt has revealed a disturbing level of planning and preparation by Thomas Matthew Crooks. The release of photos showing his weapons and explosives, combined with details of his extensive online searches and surveillance efforts, paints a picture of a determined attacker. While questions about motive remain, the FBI's findings underscore the seriousness of the threat and the swift response that prevented further tragedy at the Butler campaign rally.
