New details have emerged about the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, revealing a complex web of events leading up to the attack. Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old shooter, left a chilling message on the Steam gaming platform days before the incident, writing, ‘July 13th will be my premiere, follow the developments’. This message, along with Crooks’ search history, has become a focal point of the ongoing investigation.Investigators have uncovered that Crooks conducted searches for information about Trump, President Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and FBI Director Christopher Wray in the days leading up to the attack. He also looked up dates and locations of Trump rallies and the Democratic National Convention, ultimately focusing on Trump’s Pennsylvania speech. Despite these findings, the FBI has not yet determined a clear motive for the attack.The incident has exposed significant security lapses. The Secret Service had identified Crooks as suspicious up to an hour before the attack, noting his possession of a rangefinder and backpack. However, they lost sight of him in the crowd for a crucial period before the shooting occurred. A tactical group protecting Trump noticed Crooks just minutes before the attempt, with a sniper taking a photo of him aiming at the rally from a rooftop.As investigations continue, multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, are scrutinizing the security failures. Republican senators have criticized the lack of transparency from investigators and called for the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced the formation of a special committee to investigate the attempted assassination.The attack has left one person dead and two others critically wounded, with Trump suffering a minor ear injury. As the nation grapples with the implications of this event, the focus remains on understanding the motives behind the attack and preventing future security breaches at high-profile political events.
Key points
- Thomas Matthew Crooks left a message on Steam gaming platform before the assassination attempt.
- Crooks had searched for information on Trump, Biden, and other political figures before the attack.
- The Secret Service identified Crooks as suspicious an hour before the attack but lost track of him.
- Multiple investigations are ongoing, focusing on security lapses and potential future threats.
Contradictions👾Some sources report Crooks as 20 years old, while others describe him as a high school student, creating confusion about his exact age and educational status.
👾There are varying accounts of how long before the attack Crooks was identified as suspicious, with some reports stating an hour and others mentioning just minutes.
