(Washington) Online research on various political figures and the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, drone flights over the site, remotely activated explosive devices: the head of the FBI gave more details on Wednesday on the progress of the investigation into the attempted assassination of former American president Donald Trump.
“We don’t have a clear idea of his motivations yet,” FBI chief Christopher Wray told a congressional inquiry. “We’re continuing to dig deeper because it’s still a central issue for us.”
Installed on the roof of a building overlooking the rally in Butler (Pennsylvania), Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire on the Republican candidate on Saturday, July 13, shortly after 6 p.m., slightly injuring him in the ear and causing the death of a participant in his fifties and wounding two others, before being shot dead.
PHOTO PROVIDED TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thomas Matthew Crooks in 2021
The shooter “conducted extensive searches on various figures,” without a specific target being identified, but “beginning on July 6, he focused more specifically on former President Trump and his rally,” Wray added.
Among the searches made, the shooter asked the Google search engine “how far was (Lee Harvey) Oswald from (John F.) Kennedy,” referring to the alleged assassin of the American president in 1963.
Eight sockets
At this time, the FBI has no evidence to suggest that Mr. Crooks had accomplices or that he acted alone.
PHOTO CARLOS OSORIO, REUTERS
Aerial image of the scene where the assassination attempt occurred.
But he did locate the location a little over two hours before the start of the rally, using a drone which was found, along with the control lever, in his vehicle.
According to the FBI, Thomas Crooks also visited the rally site at least three times, including twice on the day itself, before the event took place.
The searches carried out at his home also revealed in another vehicle two explosive devices, “rather basic” and remotely activated, the detonator of which had been found on the shooter’s body.
“It would appear that if he had tried to detonate these devices from the roof, it would not have worked. But that does not mean that these devices were not dangerous,” Wray insisted.
PHOTO GENE J. PUSKAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police conducted a search of the shooter’s home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, on July 15.
Asked how many shots were fired, the FBI director said eight shell casings were found on the roof.
The reaction of the Secret Service, responsible for protecting senior American political figures, was strongly criticized after spectators reported to the authorities, shortly before the shooting, the presence of an armed man at the meeting.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation Tuesday after admitting to a congressional inquiry that her agency failed to prevent the assassination attempt.