Official FBI report or press release

Trump Shooter Conducted Drone Surveillance in Pennsylvania, Research on Mass Shooters; Audio Suggests Two Shooters

Jul 20, 2024, 05:37 AM

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, conducted extensive reconnaissance of the site using a drone. Federal investigators revealed that Crooks visited the rally location multiple times and spent significant time there before the shooting. He also signed up online to attend the rally a week before the attack. Crooks' internet history shows he researched mass shooters, including Ethan Crumbley, and made troubling searches related to explosives. Audio analysis suggests there were at least two shooters involved, with distinct weapons fired from different locations. In the initial volley, Trump and David Dutch were hit, followed by Corey Comperatore and James Copenhaver. A Secret Service sniper ultimately neutralized Crooks with a 'one-in-a-million' shot. The FBI continues to investigate the incident, including Crooks' motives and potential accomplices.