Rojek said Crooks became “hyper-focused” on Trump’s campaign rally in Butler once it was announced, and the FBI found a “mixture of ideologies” associated with the gunman.
Trump was wounded when he was shot in the ear, and two rally attendees were injured.
“When this event was announced, the Trump rally was announced, early in July, he became hyper-focused on that specific event and looked at it as a target of opportunity,” Rojek said.
From April 2024 through July 12, the gunman searched for information on campaign events for both Trump and President Biden.
Once the Trump rally was announced in Butler, he searched for specifics about that venue, including “Butler farm show podium,” according to Rojek.
In addition to shedding light on Crooks’ actions leading up to the attack, the FBI provided details about what transpired during the shooting.
Rojek said Crooks was on the roof of the AGR building for six minutes before he opened fire.
Rojek said there is no evidence to suggest Crooks was hit by the local officer’s bullet and no second gunman shooting at Trump.
As part of its investigation into the attack, the FBI spoke with Trump and said his interview was “productive.”
The new FBI photos The new details coincided with newly released photos showing some of the evidence the FBI has collected in its probe.
Washington— On Wednesday, the FBI made public four additional images gleaned from its investigation into the former president Donald Trump’s attempted assassination at a rally in Pennsylvania, along with fresh details regarding the gunman’s background.
The FBI said that it has not yet found a motive for the July 13 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, or proof that the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, collaborated with anyone. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
During a press briefing, FBI Field Office Chief in Pittsburgh, Kevin Rojek, stated that investigators “believe [Crooks] engaged in detailed attack planning.”. “. .
Following the announcement of Trump’s Butler campaign rally, Rojek claimed that Crooks went “hyper-focused” on it, and the FBI discovered a “mixture of ideologies” connected to the gunman. A Secret Service sniper fired eight shots before shooting Crooks dead. In addition to two rallygoers suffering injuries, Trump was hit in the ear by a bullet. The gunfire claimed the life of one person.
He became extremely focused on that particular event and saw it as an opportunity when the Trump rally was announced early in July, according to Rojek.
According to Rojek, an internet account connected to Crooks was utilized starting in late September 2023 to look up Trump campaign events that were scheduled in Pennsylvania. The gunman looked for information on Trump and President Biden’s campaign events between April 2024 and July 12. As soon as the Butler rally was announced, Rojek claims that Trump looked up information about the location, including the “Butler farm show podium.”.
The gunman looked up information on Trump and Joe Biden about a month prior to the attack, including the dates of the Republican and Democratic conventions.
According to Rojek, accounts connected to Crooks looked up explosive devices as early as 2019 and searched for things like “detonating cord,” “how to make a bomb from fertilizer,” and “how do remote detonators work.”.
According to Rojek, FBI agents have discovered that certain online antisemitic remarks are connected to a Crooks account, and they are investigating whether or not he actually posted those remarks.
What happened during the shooting was disclosed by the FBI, along with information regarding Crooks’ actions prior to the attack. Before firing, according to Rojek, Crooks was on the roof of the AGR building for six minutes. He restated the eight shots fired by the gunman and claimed that two were fired by law enforcement, one by a local officer and one by a Secret Service sniper.
There is no evidence, according to Rojek, that Crooks was struck by the bullet fired by the local officer, nor that Trump was shot by a second shooter.
The FBI said that Trump’s interview with them as part of their investigation into the attack was “productive.”. The parents of Crooks have also been contacted by investigators, and according to Rojek, they have been “extremely cooperative.”. “.
The updated FBI images.
The newly disclosed images, which display some of the evidence the FBI has gathered during its investigation, were released at the same time as the new information.
Crooks’ rifle, which was found at the scene of the shooting, is seen in the first picture. According to the FBI, the weapon was an AR-style rifle manufactured by DPMS Panther Arms with an optical sight mounted on the rail and an extendable rear stock.
The FBI’s second image displays Crooks’ dismantled rifle next to a backpack that he was spotted sporting at Trump’s rally. The gun owned by Crooks had a collapsible stock, which FBI Director Chris Wray told House lawmakers last month might account for why rallygoers hadn’t seen him using it.
According to Wray, Crooks’ gun-wielding incident on the roof of the AGR building was witnessed by the first rallygoers who saw him.
Crooks’ car was found to have two improvised explosive devices in its trunk. The third image made public by the FBI was taken by the Allegheny County Police Department.
The FBI claimed that the devices “had several problems in the way they were constructed” and that the receiver that would have allowed Crooks to detonate it remotely was turned off. “. .
Three “relatively crude” devices were found by the FBI, according to Wray’s testimony before Congress; two were found in Crooks’ car and one at his house.
The air conditioner that Crooks allegedly used to access the roof of the AGR building is depicted in the fourth and final FBI photo. According to the FBI, the picture was taken during a tour of the rally site in the days following the assassination attempt and is not evidence.
Crooks allegedly scaled the white unit on the far right side of the picture, according to the bureau.
