FBI Director Christopher Wray recently disclosed new details regarding the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. According to Wray, on July 6, the alleged shooter, Thomas Crooks, conducted a Google search for “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” This search coincided with the same day Crooks registered for the Butler rally where the attempt took place.
Thomas Crooks, an American man, attempted to assassinate Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. The incident occurred on July 13, 2024, at a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks, armed with an AR-15–style rifle, fired at Trump from a nearby rooftop while the former president was delivering a speech. The shot grazed Trump’s ear, killed one attendee, and critically injured two others before Crooks was fatally shot by the Secret Service Counter Sniper Team.
The motive behind Crooks’ actions remains unclear. His political affiliations appear ambiguous; he donated $15 to a Democratic voter turnout group in January 2021 but has been a registered Republican voter in Pennsylvania since September 2021. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continues to investigate the incident, seeking to uncover more about Crooks’ background and potential motives.
As the investigation unfolds, the incident has raised significant security concerns, prompting discussions about the safety measures at political events, especially large outdoor rallies. The Secret Service has since advised Trump’s campaign to opt for indoor venues, which are easier to secure, although they lack the same appeal as the outdoor gatherings favored by Trump and his supporters.