Thomas Crooks: Assassination plot foiled with discovery of fireworks detonator on Trump gunman following sniper’s fatal shot | US News
A remote fireworks detonator was discovered with the man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, as per US law enforcement sources.
The grey 12-button handset was found alongside Thomas Crooks’ phone after he was shot dead by the Secret Service for opening fire on the former president.
It is believed that the device could be connected to what the FBI referred to as a “rudimentary” explosive device found in his car.
Authorities suspect that it was likely intended to serve as a distraction or to harm law enforcement rather than to cause a significant explosion.
At 20 years old, Crooks managed to graze Trump‘s ear with one of his shots while the ex-president was addressing supporters in a field in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Investigators are delving into his background to determine a motive for the attempted assassination that experts deem a significant security breach.
The gunman was able to secure a strategic position on a roof about 130 meters away, and warnings from individuals who spotted him seem to have been disregarded or not treated with enough urgency.
Crooks’ motivation is still unclear
Pic: AP
After purchasing 50 rounds of ammunition from a local gun shop, Crooks drove to the venue, parking about a third of a mile away at a petrol station.
Despite searches of his devices and residence and interviews with over 100 people, his motive remains unclear.
There is no indication of strong political views, and individuals who knew him described him as a loner who was rejected from the school rifle team due to poor marksmanship.
However, he did manage to join a local shooting club through his family and reportedly went there to practice the day before his attack.
“He was an odd kid, but there was nothing about him that seemed threatening,” said former classmate Liam Campbell.
“Just a regular person who appeared to dislike engaging with others.”
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Trump shooting: What went wrong?
Crooks was shot dead within seconds. Pic: AP
Read more:
Who was Trump’s attacker?
Trump shooting: How the security operation unfolded
Other classmates mentioned that Crooks was bullied on a daily basis for reasons like his attire and wearing a mask post-pandemic.
The 20-year-old met his end with a shot to the head from a Secret Service counter-sniper within 15 seconds of initiating his attack.
Corey Comperatore was killed in the shooting
Audience member Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed while shielding his family, and two others were severely injured.
Mr. Trump attributed his survival to divine intervention after slightly moving his head as bullets flew, with a remarkable photo seemingly capturing one mid-flight.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the intense rhetoric that often characterizes US politics, prompting President Biden to call for unity in a televised address.
All eyes are now on Trump’s speech at the Republican party conference on Thursday, which he claimed to have rewritten following the attempt on his life.
