Last Updated on 18/07/2024 by wccexam Desk
Days before attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks left a chilling message on the online gaming platform Steam, warning “July 13 will be my premiere; watch as it unfolds.”
Crooks, a registered Republican, carried out the attack on July 13th during a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He fatally shot a 50-year-old firefighter and injured Trump and two others before being killed by Secret Service snipers within 26 seconds.
Investigators reviewing Crooks’ digital devices found that in the days leading up to the attack, he had searched for information on Trump, President Biden, the Democratic National Convention, and the July 13th Trump rally.Photos of both Trump and Biden were also discovered on his mobile phone.
The Secret Service and FBI briefed US senators, revealing that there was a 20-minute delay between when Crooks was first spotted on the roof with a rifle and when he opened fire. This delay has raised questions about the agency’s response time and ability to prevent such attacks.
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Crooks’ parents had contacted local police just hours before the assassination attempt, expressing concerns about their son’s well-being, though it’s unclear if they knew he was armed. The shooter had two cell phones, with one found near his body and another at his home containing just 27 contacts.
This chilling message and the shooter’s meticulous planning have shaken the nation and prompted renewed scrutiny of security measures around political events. Authorities continue to investigate Crooks’ motives and any potential co-conspirators.