Trump’s attempted assassin posted a message before shooting
Thomas Matthew Crooks foreshadowed his intentions to carry out an attack online days before he climbed onto a roof and opened fire at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The attack resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to several others, including former President Donald Trump, according to Fox News.
During an all-members briefing on Wednesday, July 17, Secret Service and FBI officials informed U.S. senators that Crooks, a 20-year-old man, had posted a threatening message on the gaming platform “Steam” a few days before the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, which occurred on July 13. Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich reported that Crooks had ominously written: “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.”
Additional Details and Context:
- Steam Platform: Steam is a widely used digital distribution platform where millions of gamers purchase games and communicate with one another. The platform’s popularity highlights the concerning nature of Crooks’ use of it to broadcast his intentions. Investigators discovered this threatening message while examining Crooks’ electronic devices, including his cell phone and laptop.
- Investigation Findings: Upon reviewing Crooks’ laptop, investigators found several searches conducted in July, such as “Trump,” “Biden,” “when is the DNC convention,” and “the July 13 Trump rally.” These searches suggest that Crooks was gathering information about political events and figures, but they did not find evidence of any specific ideological motivation. The FBI considered this lack of a clear political motive significant, especially since no one interviewed reported Crooks discussing politics.
- Devices and Contacts: Investigators recovered two cell phones belonging to Crooks. The primary phone and a remote transmitter were found at the scene of the attack. A second phone discovered at his home contained only 27 contacts. The FBI is currently in the process of locating and interviewing these contacts to gather more information.
- Parental Concern: On the day of the attack, just hours before it occurred, Crooks’ parents contacted local law enforcement, expressing concern about their son’s well-being. They reported that Crooks was missing, but it is unclear if they were aware that he had an AR-15 rifle, which belonged to his father.
- Law Enforcement Response: It remains unknown what actions, if any, the police took after being contacted by Crooks’ parents. The lack of clarity on the police response raises questions about whether more could have been done to prevent the attack.
By expanding on these points, the content provides a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the events leading up to the attack, the investigation’s findings, and the broader context of Crooks’ actions. This detailed account emphasizes the complexity of the case and the various elements involved in both the planning and the aftermath of the attack.