US law enforcement officials have revealed that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, had flown a drone over the event grounds earlier that day.
Crooks, 20, conducted surveillance at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds on July 13, before Trump’s appearance, The Wall Street Journal reported. Officials indicated that Crooks had meticulously planned the attack, starting his research on July 3, shortly after the event was announced. He reportedly registered for the rally on July 7 and visited the site days later to scope it out.
‘One in a million shot’
The fatal shot that ended Crooks’ attempt was described as a “one in a million shot,” Fox News reported, citing an insider familiar with the probe. The report said that a Secret Service counter-sniper, hindered by the roof’s lip, managed to hit Crooks with a single shot. However, the local tactical team missed their target. Crooks was observed pacing next to a warehouse building as a crowd gathered for Trump’s rally.
When approached by officers, Crooks was spotted belly-crawling on the roof. As one officer climbed up, Crooks, armed with an AR-15-style rifle, turned towards him. The officer retreated, prompting Crooks to fire several shots at Trump from about 400 feet away. Trump was grazed on the ear, an audience member was killed, and two others were injured before Secret Service snipers fatally shot Crooks.
This account, based on interviews with over two dozen individuals including law enforcement, school associates, and witnesses, provides insight into the first attempted U.S. presidential assassination since 1981. Days after the attempt, details of the moments preceding the shooting emerged, yet Crooks’ motives remain unclear.
Security measures at the event have sparked debate, with claims that buildings within potential firing range of Trump should have been under continuous surveillance by the US Secret Service. Local authorities, however, refute claims of inadequate security, citing their limited role in the event.
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