FBI: Shooter in Trump Assassination Attempt Acted Alone; Motive Still Unclear
Key Highlights :
- FBI identifies extensive planning by the shooter but finds no clear motive.
- Over 60 online searches related to Biden, Trump, and explosives were conducted by the shooter.
- Focus was on a Pennsylvania rally of Donald Trump on July 13 as a "target of opportunity."
The FBI has revealed that the shooter involved in the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump acted alone and did not conspire with anyone else. However, the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, extensively searched online for events involving both Trump and President Joe Biden, and also looked up information on explosives over the last five years. He identified a Pennsylvania campaign rally for Trump, where he opened fire last month, as a "target of opportunity," according to a senior FBI official.
Despite nearly 1,000 interviews conducted, investigators have not determined why Crooks fired at Trump during a July rally, though they noted that he meticulously planned the attack. The FBI's analysis of his online search history reveals that he was engaged in a "sustained, detailed effort to plan an attack on some event," focusing particularly on campaign events in western Pennsylvania.
Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, stated that Crooks had explored multiple targets and events, indicating a wide-ranging interest in planning an attack. His internet history over the years showed a fascination with explosives, violence, and high-profile figures, frustrating investigators trying to pinpoint a specific political motive or explain why Trump was targeted.
"We have a clear idea of his mindset, but we are not ready to make any conclusive statements regarding motive at this time," Rojek said. The FBI has also confirmed that Crooks acted alone, with no evidence that anyone else knew in advance or conspired with him.
The FBI discovered explosive devices in Crooks' car and home, along with internet searches dating back to at least 2019 on bomb-making materials, including remote detonators. During the assassination attempt, Crooks fired eight shots from an AR-style rifle, hitting Trump in the ear with either a bullet or a fragment. One rally attendee was killed, and two others were injured before Crooks, who was positioned on a roof 150 yards away, was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Also Read: PM Modi Meet Ukraine President Zelensky
The FBI also released images of the rifle used by Crooks, his backpack, and improvised explosive devices found in his vehicle, providing further insight into the extent of his planning. The investigation continues as officials work to understand his motives.