The FBI revealed that the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania had extensively planned a potential attack on a major event before targeting Trump. Thomas Crooks, the 20-year-old assailant, had searched over 60 times for information about Trump and his rival, Joe Biden, before registering for the Trump rally. The FBI described Crooks’s efforts as a “sustained, detailed effort” to plan an attack, and the agency is still investigating his motivations.
Despite his interest in a mix of ideologies, there is no definitive evidence that Crooks was influenced by a specific political leaning or if he acted alone. The FBI also ruled out any collaboration with other individuals or foreign powers. Evidence shows that there was no presence of drugs or alcohol in Crooks’s system during the assassination attempt.
Crooks had conducted searches for Trump’s campaign events as far back as September and had been exploring information about campaign events for both candidates since April. He also researched the dates of the Republican and Democratic national conventions. Prior to the rally, he studied the location details and even left explosive devices in his car.
The assassination attempt raised concerns about security measures at the event, leading to several investigations. The FBI continues to probe Crooks’s mindset, although they have gained some insight into his planning and actions leading up to the attack. The investigation also revealed that Crooks had researched bomb components as early as 2019, indicating a potential for premeditated violence.
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