Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to shoot Donald Trump, appeared to have drawn inspiration or sought information from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, according to the FBI.
FBI Director Christopher Wray disclosed during his testimony before a Congressional Committee that an analysis of Crooks’ laptop revealed he had Googled questions about Lee Harvey Oswald’s distance from Kennedy on July 6, the same day Trump’s rally in Butler, PA was announced.
Wray’s testimony also highlighted that July 6 was when Crooks registered for the July 13 rally, indicating that his online activity reflected his intentions and mental state. The connection to Oswald, who had assassinated JFK from approximately 265 feet away, seemed to inform Crooks’ own planning.
Thomas Matthew Crooks
However, Crooks missed Trump when he fired from around 400 feet away with an AR-15-style rifle and was subsequently neutralized by Secret Service counter snipers.
In addition to this revelation, Wray detailed that Crooks had prepared explosive devices and a remote transmitter for the rally, which suggested a broader and more dangerous plan. Crooks also used a drone to survey the area around the rally from about 200 yards away, possibly to assess security measures or other strategic elements.
Wray’s testimony painted a disturbing picture of Crooks’ intentions and preparations, indicating a premeditated attempt to harm Trump influenced by historical assassination attempts and a sophisticated setup to increase the likelihood of success.
