Father Alerted Police About Son Before Attempted Trump Assassination
In the days leading up to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the father of the gunman reached out to law enforcement, expressing concern for his son’s well-being, according to media reports.
This revelation is among several warning signs that have come to light since the incident at Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Questions have been raised about the security measures in place, with some lawmakers calling for the resignation of the US Secret Service chief.
The gunman’s father, Matthew Crooks, contacted the police worried about his son’s whereabouts, a source informed CBS, a partner of the BBC. While the exact timing of this call remains unclear, it occurred prior to the shooting.
Details of what was conveyed in the call are still uncertain. According to Fox News, Crooks’ parents, Mary and Matthew, informed the authorities that their son had vanished unexpectedly, causing them great concern. The FBI has confirmed that both parents are cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
Reports from US media indicate that the gunman had been researching major depressive disorder and the upcoming Democratic National Convention. He had also saved images of prominent figures such as Trump, President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Chris Wray, and a British Royal Family member, as reported by the Washington Post and Associated Press.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the 20-year-old gunman’s attack, which resulted in one death and several injuries. The gunman was ultimately shot dead by Secret Service snipers after he opened fire at the rally.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Crooks gained access to the rooftop of a nearby building by climbing onto an air conditioning unit, an anonymous official told CBS.
A witness reported seeing the gunman on the roof near the rally, and 20 minutes before the attack, a counter sniper alerted the US Secret Service to a suspicious man using a rangefinder. This device can measure the distance to a target.
Initially, local police noticed the gunman behaving oddly with a backpack about an hour before the shooting but lost sight of him in the crowd. He was later spotted again by the sniper. Officers were alerted by radio about a suspicious individual, and upon searching the rooftop area, an officer encountered Crooks. When Crooks pointed a rifle at the officer, who was in a vulnerable position, the officer let go of the roof and fell to the ground, immediately alerting others. Moments later, the gunman began shooting.
Despite prior sightings, law enforcement did not see any weapon when Crooks was first spotted. Officials are now investigating how he managed to smuggle his AR-style rifle to the roof, suspecting he may have stashed it earlier near the air conditioning units or concealed it in his backpack.
Reconstructing Crooks’ movements before the attack is crucial to understanding how he executed the shooting. The semi-automatic rifle used in the attack was legally purchased by Crooks’ father in 2013, officials told CBS. When the gunman was found, he was carrying a remote detonator, and his car contained explosives, according to law enforcement sources.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and investigators continue to explore whether any political ideology played a role.
Timeline Leading Up to the Shooting:
- 17:11: Local officers spot Crooks and alert other law enforcement, but lose track of him.
- 17:45: A counter sniper reports and photographs a suspicious man (Crooks) near the rally.
- 17:52: The US Secret Service is informed of a suspicious person with a rangefinder.
- 18:03: Trump begins his speech at the rally.
- 18:09: Rally attendees notice Crooks on the roof and attempt to alert law enforcement.
- 18:11: Crooks opens fire and is shot dead by Secret Service counter snipers 26 seconds later.
