Explosive devices were found inside the car of the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump during his Saturday rally in Pennsylvania, according to a report.The car, driven by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was found not far from the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sources close to the investigation into the shooting told The Wall Street Journal. YouTube Tips ⓘ
The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks, age 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, as the shooter involved in the assassination attempt of former President Donald J. Trump. Bethel Park is about 45 miles south of Butler, Pennsylvania.
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed while on an elevated position on a roof after he fired eight shots that killed a retired fire chief, Corey Comperatore, age 50, who was near Trump behind the podium; wounded two people with critical injuries; and caused a wound on the right ear of Donald Trump, who was about 6 minutes into a speech at the Butler Farm Show Grounds, 625 Evans City Road, Butler, Pennsylvania. Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service Counter-Assault Team (CAT) that was located on another roof closer to the Trump rally stage.
There is concern regarding how the shooter, armed with a rifle, was able to achieve an elevated position on a roof within 500 feet of the former president standing at a podium. At a press conference, FBI Special Agent Kevin Rojek, who runs the Pittsburgh office, pleaded for patience, saying answered questions are “really days, weeks and months of investigation” away from being answered.
Asked how a shooter could have positioned on a rooftop so close to rally stage, Rojek replied, “It is surprising, but again to get all the details of that will come out later in the investigation.”
The FBI is currently investigating, and is leading the investigation as the lead federal law enforcement agency, anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is asked to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was not carrying ID when he was found on the roof. Investigators used DNA to identify Crooks, according to the FBI.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Believed to be a “Lone Wolf”
Motive unknown
Suspicious devices/possible explosives found in his vehicle
Armed with a semi-automatic AR-style rifle that was legally purchased by his father
A photo taken from the ground, showed a person lying on a roof bleeding from the head, and showed the person surrounded by tactical and uniformed law enforcement personnel. The mortally-wounded male was wearing a gray T-shirt with an American flag on the right short sleeve of the T-shirt. The appearance and lettering of the shirt match the appearance of a shirt that displayed (for sale) on a website that is referred from the YouTube channel “Demolition Ranch.”
Also, someone managing the Demolition Ranch profile on Instagram posted a picture of the downed shooter on the roof, located about 450 feet from the Trump rally stage with the caption, “What the Hell?”
Also, an apparent law enforcement insider photo was leaked showing a closeup image of the dead shooter with a head wound and dried blood on his face.
Video shared on social media also shows a mortally-wounded man (Corey Comperatore), who was positioned behind Trump during the rally, being carried out by Pennsylvania State Police troopers. His head was covered by a bloodied patriotic linen fabric.
The shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was able to access a roof around 130 meters from the podium where Mr Trump was speaking (BBC News). YouTube Tips ⓘ
A witness says he and his friends tried warning police for several minutes that a gunman was on a roof during the Trump rally, but that Secret Service didn’t take action until between five and eight shots were fired. “We see him, you know, he’s he’s crawling. And next thing you know, I’m like, I’m thinking to myself, I’m like, Why is Trump still speaking? Why have they not pulled him off the stage? I’m standing there pointing at him for you know, 2 or 3 minutes. Secret Service is looking at us from the top of the barn. I’m pointing at that roof just standing there like this. And next thing you know, five shots rang out,” Greg Smith claimed (New York Post/BBC with Gary O’Donoghue interviewing). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. He has been described as an above-average student.
BREAKING: Following the release of my report below, @BlackRock quietly deleted the video (seen below) that they filmed with Thomas Matthew Crooks, the Butler, Pennsylvania wannabe Trump assassin in 2023.
Blackrock didn’t issue a statement, but they did delete the video today.… https://t.co/axbLl3ev66
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) July 14, 2024