Gunman Who Targeted Trump Researched JFK Assassination Before Attack, Says FBI Director
In a shocking revelation, FBI Director Christopher Wray has disclosed that the gunman responsible for targeting Donald Trump at a recent campaign rally had conducted online research on the assassination of John F. Kennedy days before the attack. Wray shared these details on Wednesday while testifying before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the July 13th incident in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During the rally, a bullet grazed Trump’s right ear, resulting in one fatality and two severe injuries among the audience. Wray noted that the assailant’s firearm featured a collapsible stock, making it easier to conceal.
Wray emphasized the severity of the event in his opening remarks, describing the assassination attempt as “an attack on our democracy and our democratic process.” He condemned all forms of political violence, especially such a significant and heinous act.
Investigations reveal that on July 6th, a week before the attack, the gunman searched online for details about the distance from which Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy. The gunman also registered for Trump’s rally on the same day. Although Oswald infamously assassinated Kennedy in 1963, the FBI is still searching for a motive behind this recent attempt. Wray mentioned that the gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, became increasingly fixated on Trump in the days leading up to the attack.
Crooks, who was killed by a counter-sniper during the incident, fired at least eight shots from the rooftop where he was positioned. The authorities recovered eight shell casings at the scene. The rifle used, an AR-style weapon with a collapsible stock, was believed to be the same one Crooks practiced with at a shooting range the day before the rally.
In an alarming twist, the FBI also discovered that Crooks had flown a drone over the rally site two hours before the attack. Additionally, three crude explosive devices were found—one at his home and two in his car. These devices could be remotely detonated, although Crooks lacked the capability to trigger them from his rooftop perch during the shooting.
The FBI director stated there is no evidence suggesting Crooks had accomplices. Crooks appeared to be a “loner,” with few contacts in his phone. A search of his home revealed approximately 14 firearms associated with him and his family.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the attempted assassination, with Wray assuring that the agency will exhaust all efforts to uncover the truth. “The men and women of the FBI will continue to work tirelessly to get to the bottom of what happened,” he pledged.
In a related development, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on Tuesday following her testimony before a different congressional committee earlier in the week. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers had called for her resignation after a contentious hearing where she refused to answer questions about the assassination attempt.
