Shooter’s Motives, Security Breaches… Questions Raised After Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump

More questions than answers. After the assassination attempt that targeted Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, the investigation is only just beginning to provide the first elements on the circumstances of the attack. Gray areas persist, particularly on the motivations of the shooter, but also on the potential security breaches that allowed him to access a roof with a direct view of the former president. Franceinfo returns to the questions that remain.

Was the shooter politicized?

The FBI revealed several details about the shooter’s profile on Sunday. Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was originally from Bethel Park, a town in Pennsylvania located about forty kilometers from the site of Donald Trump’s rally. “At this point, the suspect does not appear to be affiliated with any ideology, but it is still early in the investigation.”said Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge of the investigation, during a briefing cited by the Washington Post.

Doubts remain about Thomas Matthew Crooks’ political leanings. He was registered as a Republican voter in an electoral database (PDF) of Pennsylvania, and would have voted for the first time this November. But a donor named Thomas Crooks, who lives at the same address, made a $15 donation in 2021 to the Progressive Turnout Project, a Democratic-affiliated movement that encourages voters to cast ballots. A former high school classmate of his told Reuters that he had never shown any particular interest in politics.

What were his motivations?

Thomas Matthew Crooks’ motive remains unknown. The investigation has so far failed to find any manifesto or statement explaining his actions. No links have been established between the suspect and terrorist groups. “At this stage, the information we have indicates that he acted alone.”said Kevin Rojek. The FBI says it is exploring the possibility of a “potential act of domestic terrorism”. Explosive devices “rudimentary” were found in the shooter’s car and home, and have all been neutralized, he added.

According to New York TimesThomas Matthew Crooks did not have any accounts on the most commonly used social networks. The platform Discord claimed to have discovered an account linked to the shooter, but which was rarely used. “We have found no evidence that it was used to prepare this attack or [par le tireur] to discuss his political opinions”the company said.

According to Washington Postthe FBI is now trying to access the contents of the shooter’s phone, sent to its headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, while examining his online activities. The Associated Press adds that Thomas Matthew Crooks was wearing a T-shirt with the logo of the YouTube channel Demolition Ranch at the time of his death, which posts videos of the use of various firearms and explosive devices, but the investigation has not yet confirmed that the young man viewed these videos.

The 20-year-old, who worked at a care center, had no known mental health issues and had never been investigated or monitored by federal law enforcement, the report said. New York TimesHis colleagues and former classmates claim not to have seen “no sign” announcer of his act.

How did he prepare this attack?

Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on the president with semi-automatic rifle AR-15, the FBI said. The weapon and its owner were quickly identified through a search by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). The rifle had been “purchased legally” by the shooter’s father, the FBI added.

Investigators were still unsure Sunday whether Thomas Matthew Crooks borrowed the gun from his father or took it without his permission. The agency said, however, that the shooter’s family was cooperating with authorities. In a brief statement to CNN, his father, Matthew Crooks, said he was trying to understand “what was happening” but that he “waiting to speak to the police” before speaking about his son.

According to testimonies from former high school classmates collected by the American channel ABC News, Thomas Matthew Crooks had been excluded from his high school shooting team several years ago, because he was too “bad shooter”. A shooting club near Pittsburgh, the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, confirmed Sunday that it had counted the 20-year-old among its members for at least a year.

How did he get a clear view of Donald Trump?

One of the most critical questions is whether there was a gap in protection for Donald Trump. Thomas Matthew Crooks carried out his attack from the roof of a building less than 500 feet from the podium where the Republican candidate was speaking. Officials quickly questioned the security perimeter set up around the rally, which allowed the shooter to get so close to the event, with a clear line of sight on the Republican candidate. “One of the basic elements of securing a site (…) is to eliminate any line of sight to where the protected person will be located”highlighted Andrew McCabe, former deputy director of the FBI, interviewed by CNN.

The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting American presidents (past and present) and other dignitaries, quickly declared that the building where Thomas Matthew Crooks was located was not within its perimeter, but that of the local police. The latter was informed by several participants in the meeting of the presence of a man behaving strangely, near the site.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News that the suspect was quickly spotted by one of his officers, who was on the roof of a building near the rally. The man spotted the officer and pulled his gun on him, forcing him to retreat. The officer immediately alerted other law enforcement, but the shooter opened fire toward the Trump rally.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi responded Sunday to reports that his agency had refused additional security measures requested by Donald Trump to secure the rally. “This is completely false. In reality, we have added means, technologies and protection capabilities in the face of the more intense pace of movement during the campaign.”he wrote on the social network X.

In a second message, he refuted a reporter’s claim that the Secret Service had reduced protection for Donald Trump to ensure the safety of a rally by First Lady Jill Biden. According to CNN, Kevin Rojek also said that he “There has never been an additional security request denied by the FBI”.

Several Republican congressmen have already announced a commission of inquiry into the circumstances of the assassination attempt. Joe Biden has ordered a “independent investigation”which will in particular have to reveal possible failures of the Secret Service.