The FBI has released new photos and details about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The release includes images of the assailant’s firearm and the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in his car trunk.
The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office provided detailed information about Crooks’ activities prior to the attack. According to Special Agent Kevin Rojek, Crooks engaged in extensive planning for the assault, focusing specifically on Trump’s Butler rally once it was announced in early July. Crooks had no identifiable political ideology and conducted over 60 online searches on both President Joe Biden and former President Trump in the months preceding the attack.
Rojek explained that Crooks’ searches included details about Trump’s campaign events and the rally’s location. On July 6, Crooks searched for information about the event’s podium and its location at the Butler Farm Show, where the rally took place. He also inquired about historical assassinations, such as the distance Lee Harvey Oswald was from President John F. Kennedy when he was shot.
Crooks, 20, was seen near the rally perimeter before the event, climbing the roof of the American Glass Research (AGR) building. From this vantage point, he fired eight shots at Trump before being killed by a Secret Service sniper. The attack resulted in one death and two serious injuries.
The FBI released photos showing Crooks’ AR-15 rifle, which he had disassembled and concealed in a backpack. Additional images revealed the IEDs found in Crooks’ car, although the devices had several construction flaws and were set to remote detonation but were turned off.
The bureau has confirmed that Crooks acted alone, with no evidence of foreign involvement or co-conspirators. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, with officials noting that Crooks’ online activities displayed a “mixture of ideologies.”
The FBI has also responded to criticisms regarding the handling of the crime scene and the return of Crooks’ body to his family. Rojek stated that standard procedures were followed and that the body was returned once the necessary autopsy was completed.
The investigation continues, with a Congressional task force reviewing the security lapses that allowed the attack to occur. The Secret Service has faced scrutiny, and several agents have been placed on administrative leave.
With input from CBS News, CNN, BBC, FOX News and New York Post.
