FBI Reveals Early Detection of Suspected Trump Gunman before Assassination Attempt

On July 13, law enforcement officers identified a suspicious individual later confirmed as Thomas Crooks, who attempted to assassinate Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, shared details about the incident on Monday.

The sequence of events began when a local officer spotted Crooks over an hour before the shooting, took a photo, and shared it with other law enforcement officials at Trump’s rally. About 30 minutes later, Crooks was observed by SWAT team operators using a rangefinder and browsing news sites. At 5:56 p.m., Crooks, carrying a backpack, was seen, and at 6:08 p.m., a police dashboard camera captured him walking on the roof from where he eventually fired the shots.

Although the FBI is not responsible for investigating security lapses in Trump’s protection, they are compiling a detailed timeline of the events. The motive behind Crooks' actions remains unknown. However, it has been discovered that Crooks conducted online searches related to prior mass shootings, improvised explosive devices, and the attempted assassination of the Slovakian prime minister in May.

After opening fire, Crooks, a 20-year-old with no close friends or acquaintances, was shot dead by a Secret Service agent. Trump, who has been critical of the FBI, agreed to a standard victim's interview to provide his perspective. Rojek confirmed that Trump was hit by a bullet, whether intact or fragmented.

Crooks' social circle was primarily his immediate family, with whom he communicated using encrypted applications. The FBI revealed that he had made 25 firearm-related purchases and acquired six chemical precursors for making explosive devices. Despite his long-standing interest in science and experiments, his parents did not find his activities suspicious. They have been cooperative with the investigation.

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