Trump Rally Shooter Used Drone to Scope Out Event Site Hours Before Attack
Federal investigators have discovered a small drone in the car of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. According to law enforcement officials, Crooks used the drone to survey the rally site at least once before the shooting. The FBI is currently analyzing the drone to better understand Crooks’s motives.
The discovery of the drone was delayed due to the presence of two rudimentary explosive devices in Crooks' Hyundai Sonata, found shortly after the shooting. Investigations revealed that Crooks flew the drone over the fairgrounds, capturing aerial footage, which may have been used to aid his plan. Despite security measures that prohibited drones at the event, the drone's use highlights potential lapses in security protocols. Crooks also had a ballistic carrier with three, 30-round magazines, indicating the possibility of further intended violence. The motive behind Crooks’s actions remains unknown, and the investigation continues.
