In a chilling revelation, it has come to light that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old behind the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, was not only plotting the shooting but also in the midst of building an explosive device. This development emerged from a detailed investigation into the events leading up to the July 13, 2024, incident at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Crooks shot at Trump, causing injury, and tragically took the lives of two others.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) obtained crucial evidence from encrypted emails showing that Crooks had ordered a significant quantity of nitromethane, a chemical commonly utilized in the making of explosives, from an online vendor. A follow-up email from Crooks on January 31, 2024, expressed concern over the delivery of his order, inadvertently providing authorities with a timestamp and his identity.
These emails were accessed through Crooks' student email account linked to the Community College of Allegheny County, where he was enrolled. The correspondence reveals a seemingly typical college student actively engaged with his professors and expressing enthusiasm for his studies. In one email, he inquired about bringing fewer guests to a class presentation, citing limited family availability.
However, this facade of normalcy was shattered on the day of the rally, where Crooks took a position atop a building near the stage, armed with an AR-15 rifle. From this vantage point, less than 150 yards away, he managed to fire eight shots at Trump before counter-snipers neutralized the threat.
A Senate investigation into the incident unearthed a series of failures by the U.S. Secret Service, which were deemed "foreseeable, preventable, and directly related to the events resulting in the assassination attempt that day." Notably, technical difficulties with drones designated to surveil the rally and the inexperience of the agent in charge were highlighted, along with the absence of backup systems.
The FBI's findings, supported by statements from former Trump officials Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, concluded that Crooks had acted independently without ties to any foreign conspiracy. This counters online speculation that suggested Crooks might have been part of an international plot aimed at stopping Trump before the 2024 election.
Despite the suspect being killed during the incident, the revelations have sparked serious concerns regarding the adequacy of security protocols at high-profile political events. Patricia Thompson, a professor who taught Crooks, reflected on the situation with sorrow, remarking on the wasted potential of a student who "had so much promise."
The investigation continues as new details surface, leaving the nation to grapple with the unsettling reality of the dangers faced by public figures and the importance of robust security measures.
