Suspect Thomas Crooks practiced shooting and bought 50 bullets before killing Mr. Trump

Authorities have revealed that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspect in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, went target shooting and purchased 50 rounds of ammunition two days before the incident occurred.

Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old resident of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, has been identified as the shooter in the July 13th attack on Trump. Crooks had no prior criminal record.

In the days leading up to the attempted assassination, Crooks visited several locations in his hometown near Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas. According to a local official cited by CNN, on the morning of July 12th, Crooks went to the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, located 25 minutes from his home, where he and his father were members, to practice shooting.

The following day, on the morning of July 13th, Crooks visited a store specializing in construction tools and equipment to purchase a 5-meter ladder. Shortly afterward, he bought 50 rounds of ammunition at a nearby gun store.

While there is no evidence that Crooks used all these items in the attack, investigators believe he used the ladder to climb a building near Trump’s campaign area and fired at least eight shots at the former president.

Crooks drove his car for about an hour northward before blending into the crowd gathering for Trump’s campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. He parked his car outside the event area. Authorities later found an improvised explosive device connected to a signal transmitter in the car’s trunk, suggesting that Crooks may have planned to detonate it remotely to divert attention from the shooting. How he assembled the explosive devices in the car remains unclear.

A review of Crooks’ computer history showed no prior research on homemade explosives. Law enforcement is working to trace Crooks’ movements in the 48 hours before the incident, piecing together his actions to determine his motives.

Authorities have successfully accessed Crooks’ personal phone and computer history and have interviewed his family and friends. However, investigators are still struggling to understand Crooks’ political leanings and what drove him to act.

The FBI conducted nearly 100 interviews

In a press release on July 15th, the FBI announced they had successfully accessed Crooks’ phone and are continuing to analyze his electronic devices. The FBI has conducted nearly 100 interviews with law enforcement personnel, event attendees, and other witnesses. They have also gathered substantial information from digital media, including photos and videos taken at the scene.

Fox News reported that the AR-15 used by Crooks in the incident, along with his mobile devices, computer, and improvised explosive device, are currently being examined by the FBI. The AR-15, used by Crooks to shoot at Trump, was legally purchased by his father, Matthew Crooks. According to records from the Pennsylvania State Police reviewed by investigators, this gun is one of over 20 firearms registered to Crooks’ father and stored at their home.