Law enforcement officials have disclosed that Thomas Matthew Crooks made a deliberate attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally by utilizing a drone to film aerial shots of the western Pennsylvania fairgrounds just before Trump was expected to appear. The concerning revelation underscores significant lapses in security protocols that could have potentially endangered the safety of Trump and attendees at the event, The Wall Street Journal detailed in their report.
According to the report's findings, Crooks meticulously planned the operation by programming a flight path for the drone on July 13 to surveil the Butler Farm Show grounds in advance of the scheduled rally. This calculated action indicates that Crooks likely conducted multiple drone flights to gather detailed information about the layout and security measures in place at the event venue.
The investigation revealed that Crooks initiated his reconnaissance of the rally site shortly after the announcement of the event by the Trump campaign on July 3, swiftly registering for the rally on July 7. In the days leading up to the rally, Crooks then made a visit to the farm show grounds to familiarize himself with the location. On the day of the event, July 13, authorities discovered two homemade explosive devices in Crooks' vehicle, designed for remote detonation using mechanisms similar to those found in fireworks. Additionally, law enforcement found a ballistic vest equipped with three 30-round magazines, signaling a potential intention to cause significant harm and escalate the level of threat posed.