The FBI recently revealed details about an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The suspect, Thomas Crooks, climbed onto the roof of a building near where the rally was held by using HVAC equipment and piping. He then moved across several rooftops before finding a position to fire at the former president.
During a press conference, Kevin Rojak, a special agent at the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, shared that Crooks made online purchases related to firearms and explosive materials leading up to the incident. Crooks had a particular interest in firearms, having started taking shooting lessons in 2023 and making multiple online firearm purchases using an alias.
On the day of the rally, Crooks parked his vehicle and flew a drone near the rally site, indicating premeditation. Despite being noticed by law enforcement before the shooting, Crooks managed to evade security measures and fired at the former president, injuring several individuals and resulting in one fatality.
The FBI is working diligently to uncover Crooks’ motive and determine if he had any accomplices. They have interviewed numerous individuals who knew Crooks to build a comprehensive profile of the suspect. While Crooks was described as highly intelligent, he was also characterized as a loner with limited social connections.
The agency is striving to piece together a timeline of events leading up to the attempted assassination and identify any gaps in security that allowed Crooks to carry out the attack. Despite the tragedy that unfolded in Butler, Trump is anticipated to return for another rally in the future, although specific details have not been disclosed.
The investigation into the attempted assassination continues as law enforcement agencies collaborate to ensure the safety and security of public figures at future events. The incident has raised concerns about the need for enhanced security measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.