The FBI has released new photos of the AR-15 rifle that 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks used to attempt to assassinate former US President Donald Trump.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released new photos of the AR-15 rifle that 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks used to attempt to assassinate former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July. In addition to images of the weapon, the FBI also revealed pictures of Crooks’ backpack and the explosives found in his car at the event.
Photos released Wednesday show the rifle was cut into two pieces, which Crooks likely hid in his backpack as he made his way through the crowd at the rally.
“Two improvised explosive devices, as initially discovered in the trunk of Thomas Crooks’ car. The remote detonation receiver was disabled; the devices had several design problems,” the FBI said.
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In addition, the agency released a picture of an air conditioning unit that Crooks allegedly used to get to the roof of the AGR building, where he positioned himself before opening fire. “The perpetrator gained access to the roof by climbing onto the tan machine on the far right of the photo,” the FBI further explained.
Details about the crooks’ preparations come to light
In addition to the photos, FBI officials have provided new intelligence about the days leading up to the assassination. According to Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, Crooks had conducted extensive online research on Trump and President Joe Biden, as well as information about explosives, over the past five years. He reportedly viewed the Butler rally as a “target of opportunity.”
Rojek said Crooks’ online activity suggested careful planning. On July 6, nearly a week before the rally, Crooks searched for terms such as “where will Trump speak at the Butler Farm Show,” “Butler Farm Show podium” and “Butler Farm Show photos.” On July 8, he researched “AGR International,” the company that owned the building from which he planned to launch the attack. Later searches included “ballistic calculator” on July 9 and “weather” in Butler the following day.
FBI rejects conspiracy theories and confirms lone perpetrator
The FBI has also looked into various conspiracy theories surrounding the attack, including speculation about a second shooter targeting the former president, which the agency has dismissed.
“I can confirm that there was no second shooter,” Rojek assured reporters, stressing that Crooks acted alone.
Although investigators have conducted nearly 1,000 interviews, they have not yet been able to determine the exact motive for Crooks’ actions. However, they believe he conducted “extensive attack planning” before attempting to assassinate Donald Trump.
Connections to research into the JFK assassination uncovered
Last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed that Crooks had been searching for information related to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy in the days before the rally attack. One specific search query was “How far was Oswald from Kennedy?”, referring to the assassination of JFK by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine, from a sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas in 1963.
Details of the shooting incident
During the July rally in Butler, Crooks fired eight shots at the stage where Trump was speaking. The bullets narrowly missed Trump’s face and grazed his ear. Three other rally attendees were injured and a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was killed. Secret Service agents responded quickly and shot Crooks on the spot.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities try to learn more details about Crooks’ motives and the planning of the attack.
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