Butler, Pennsylvania – Law enforcement officials investigating the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump provided new details to lawmakers regarding the timeline of events leading up to the incident. The suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was spotted by U.S. Secret Service snipers on a rooftop outside the security zone at the rally in Butler. The snipers first identified Crooks at 5:52 p.m. ET, 20 minutes before shots were fired at 6:12 p.m. ET.
In the days following the shooting, scrutiny has been directed towards the Secret Service’s response to the attempt on Trump’s life, with calls for the agency’s director, Kim Cheatle, to resign. Crooks’ search history on his phone revealed searches related to both President Biden and former President Trump, as well as the dates of specific events.
During a briefing with lawmakers, it was disclosed that Crooks had been identified as a person of interest a full 62 minutes before the shooting incident. The timeline of events leading up to the attempt showed that Crooks fired his first shot just 26 seconds before being shot and killed by law enforcement.
New analysis by visual verification teams showed that one of the sniper teams repositioned just before the shots were fired. Additionally, Crooks had purchased an ammunition box at a Walmart two days after the rally was announced, indicating some premeditation.
Despite extensive investigations and interviews, the motive behind Crooks’ actions remains elusive, with no firm connection to any political ideology. The FBI has conducted over 200 interviews as part of the ongoing investigation into the attempt on Trump’s life.
Questions have arisen regarding how Crooks managed to ascend to the rooftop undetected and carry out the attack, including the presence of suspicious devices found in his possession. Investigators have uncovered a remote transmitter and tactical vest, while also questioning Crooks’ intentions and whether he had any accomplices.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to the assassination attempt and determine the full extent of Crooks’ planning and motives. With new information emerging, the case surrounding the attempt on Trump’s life remains a complex and ongoing investigation.