On Monday morning, the FBI informed reporters that Thomas Crooks, who attempted to assassinate Trump, accessed the roof of a building near the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, by climbing HVAC equipment and piping.
Crooks navigated multiple rooftops before positioning himself on a building owned by American Glass Research (AGR), located roughly 150 yards from where the former president delivered his speech.
The FBI held a press conference over two weeks following the events, during which 20-year-old Crooks fired at Trump with an AR-15 during the rally, resulting in a gunshot grazing the president’s ear, while one man lost his life and two others were left hospitalized.
Investigators found that Crooks purchased a ladder shortly before the assassination attempt, but he did not utilize it during the rally, leaving it at his home in Bethel Park.
TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW GUNMAN EVADED SECURITY
Buildings near the Butler Farm Show, where a campaign rally was held for former President Donald Trump, are visible on Monday, July 15, 2024. Thomas Crooks shot from the roof of this complex and injured Trump on July 13 during the assassination attempt. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Details on how Crooks managed to bypass security remain unclear, particularly after law enforcement spotted him more than an hour prior to the gunfire. The FBI indicated that over 300 agents and staff are tirelessly compiling facts and clarifying the timeline of Crooks’ actions.
According to the agency, eight rounds were found on the rooftop from which Crooks fired.
FBI Director Christopher Wray stated during a congressional hearing on July 17 that Crooks had been at the rally venue for approximately 70 minutes on the day of the assassination attempt. He also operated a drone about 200 yards away from where the former president was speaking, Wray noted.
A historic image of Thomas Matthew Crooks. (Handout via AFP)
Law enforcement first noticed a suspicious individual near the rally site at approximately 5:10 p.m. on July 13 — one hour and one minute before Crooks discharged his weapon. Local authorities alerted command about this individual and confirmed that the Secret Service was aware of his presence.
DONALD TRUMP JUMPS TO DEFEND FEMALE SECRET SERVICE AGENT WHO ‘SHIELDED’ HIM FROM ASSASSINATION
Over the following hour, law enforcement identified a suspicious building, and snipers documented Crooks and his abandoned bicycle near the rally. Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri, who received a briefing on the assassination attempt, conveyed that a sniper “had eyes on” the suspicious individual merely 20 minutes before Crooks opened fire.
FBI agents canvass Thomas Matthew Crooks’ neighborhood in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania on Monday, July 15, 2024. Crooks was killed on July 13 after attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Trump addressed the crowd shortly after 6 p.m. — one hour later than originally scheduled. Eleven minutes afterward, Crooks discharged multiple rounds, resulting in the death of 50-year-old Corey Comperatore and serious injuries to 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver. Dutch has since been released from the hospital, while Copenhaver is still receiving treatment.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
FBI officials continue to investigate Crooks’ motivations behind the chaotic assassination attempt that impacted Butler and surrounding areas. They are also assessing whether Crooks collaborated with accomplices, although the agency confirmed on Monday that there is no evidence of any others being involved.
Trump plans to return to Butler for another rally in the future, although specifics regarding when have not yet been disclosed.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
