In a concerning turn of events, a would-be assassin at the recent Pennsylvania rally where a bullet nearly killed former President Trump allegedly flew a drone over the event site just hours before opening fire. Sources familiar with the investigation reveal that Thomas Crooks used this flight to record footage of the rally layout on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show, after researching the facility shortly after the Trump campaign announced the event in early July.
According to data from the drone, Crooks, who was reportedly highly intelligent and tech-savvy, flew it along a pre-programmed path, as told to the New York Times by an official briefed on the investigation. The Secret Service typically prohibits drone flights at secured sites; however, NBC News reports that it is unclear whether such a restriction was put in place during the rally. Interestingly, the Secret Service usually requests permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to deploy drones in restricted airspace such as the Trump rally but did not on this occasion, according to the Times.
This latest development adds another troubling piece of information to the already concerning timeline on the day of the shooting, which resulted in the death of spectator Corey Comperatore and wounded two others. Crooks was identified as a suspicious individual over an hour before he started firing from a rooftop approximately 450 feet away from Trump’s podium. At the time, he was already seen possessing a rangefinder and carrying a duffel bag. Later, he was spotted on the roof 20 minutes before chaos erupted.
The drone was discovered in Crooks’ Hyundai Sonata, parked near the event. The vehicle also contained two crude explosive devices, a bulletproof vest, and several 30-round magazines for the rifle he used in the attack. These homemade bombs featured a receiver comparable to those utilized to ignite fireworks from a distance, according to sources of the Wall Street Journal. In the months leading up to the assassination attempt, Crooks received multiple packages shipped to his home marked “hazardous materials.
On the day before the rally, Crooks spent several hours practicing with a rifle at the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, where he was a member. Fox News sources indicate that Crooks used a DPMS AR-15 chambered in 5.56mm, purchased by his father in 2013.
On his final morning alive, Crooks bought a ladder at Home Depot at 9:30 am; however, investigators believe he did not end up using it. In the afternoon, he purchased 50 rounds of ammunition.
Investigators are still uncertain about Crooks’ specific motivations for the assassination attempt. His internet search history reveals that he had not only examined Trump’s campaign schedule but also looked into the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, set to begin on August 19th. Officials have informed federal lawmakers that Crooks harbored a general disdain for politicians and did not adhere to any distinct political ideology or profile of his own.
As new information continues to emerge, it remains to be seen what the next damning detail will be in this alarming case.
