The FBI has revealed that the gunman who attempted to kill former President Donald Trump had extensively planned and prepared for an attack on a major event before ultimately targeting Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Thomas Crooks, 20, had conducted numerous searches related to Trump and his opponent, Joe Biden, before registering for the Trump rally in July.
FBI officials described Crooks as being “hyper-focused” on the Trump rally and considered it a “target of opportunity.” Despite his computer activity showing an interest in a mix of ideologies, the FBI has not determined his specific motivation for the assassination attempt.
There is no evidence to suggest that Crooks had accomplices or was directed by a foreign power, and toxicology reports showed no drugs or alcohol in his system. The investigation into how Crooks was able to climb a nearby building and fire shots at Trump is ongoing, with security measures being scrutinized.
Crooks had been researching Trump’s events since September and had searched for information on bomb components as early as 2019. In the days leading up to the rally, he searched for details about the event site and the building where he would later fire shots at Trump.
The FBI is continuing to investigate Crooks to understand his mindset and motivation for the assassination attempt. The incident has raised concerns about the security of political events and the measures in place to protect public figures.
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