Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray provided lawmakers with critical updates on the investigation related to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a hearing on Wednesday. The incident occurred on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the gunman, Thomas Crooks, targeted Trump.
In his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Wray revealed that Crooks conducted an online search about former President John F. Kennedy a week prior to the attempt. “An analysis of a laptop tied to the shooter shows that on July 6, he searched for ‘How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?’ This search reflects his mindset, coinciding with the day he registered for the Butler rally,” Wray explained.
Lee Harvey Oswald is infamously known as the man who assassinated Kennedy in 1963.
Wray elaborated on the timeline and details surrounding the troubling actions of Crooks leading up to the shooting. While the FBI has gained access to the gunman’s digital devices, they have yet to identify a clear motive or political ideology. Wray noted, “It is evident that starting around July 6, Crooks became fixated on public figures, particularly former President Trump and this rally.”
Investigators believe Crooks visited the rally site multiple times, spending 20 minutes there a week before the event and approximately 70 minutes on the morning of the rally. Notably, he remained on-site directly before the event began.
During his last visit, Crooks used a drone to survey the rally grounds, flying it for 11 minutes about 200 yards from the stage. The drone and its controller were later recovered from his vehicle. Although authorities have reverse-engineered the drone’s flight path, they have not determined what Crooks could observe or his intentions.
Explosive Devices Recovered
Wray also addressed the recovery of three explosive devices linked to Crooks—two from his car and one from his home. Although described as “relatively crude,” these devices were capable of remote detonation. An unactivated transmitter was found on Crooks’ body, leading investigators to believe he would not have been able to set off the explosives.
Moreover, Wray stated that Crooks utilized mechanical equipment to access the roof from where he fired at the rally attendees. The investigation is ongoing, and the exact timing of when he accessed the roof remains undetermined. Wray noted that Crooks’ AR-style rifle featured a collapsible stock, which may have made it less conspicuous.
Profile of the Gunman
Wray shared insights into Crooks’ personal life, revealing that the FBI has conducted over 400 interviews to piece together his background. “Many describe him as a loner,” the FBI Director stated. “His contact list is remarkably short, indicating limited interaction with others.” Previous reports indicated that Crooks had saved images of public figures, including Presidents Biden and Trump, and the Attorney General on his phone, sourced from online searches.
Wray concluded, “This does not appear to be a target list but rather cached images from news articles and searches without any notable patterns.” The investigation continues as authorities dig deeper into the motivations and actions of the gunman.
