Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by the U.S. Secret Service after attempting to fire at Trump.
According to investigations led by the FBI, Crooks may have hidden his DPMS AR-15 rifle behind an AC unit on the roof of a nearby building before climbing up and approaching the rally site. The rifle was not found on site, leading investigators to believe it was concealed prior to the event.
Crooks had previously purchased a ladder and ammunition on the morning of the rally, but no ladder was discovered at the scene. It is unclear how he managed to bring the rifle onto the roof undetected.
FBI investigators are also looking into whether Crooks flew a drone over the rally site prior to the shooting as part of his reconnaissance efforts. No concrete evidence has been found to support this claim, but it is being investigated further.
Trump was grazed by a bullet that hit the top of his right ear during the incident. One spectator was killed and two others were critically injured before Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
Crooks had a history of disliking politicians, as evidenced by his online search history which included terms related to Trump, Biden, and the Democratic National Committee. He also had a fascination with depressive disorder.
The FBI is continuing its investigation into the assassination attempt and has asked for any additional information or leads from the public.
