NEWLY released photos of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, have sparked further intrigue and speculation surrounding the failed attempt on the former president’s life.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
The images, captured just moments before Crooks opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, revealed unsettling details about his final actions.
The new photos show Crooks on his phone, although it is unclear what he is doing
Newly unearthed photos show a relaxed Thomas Matthew Crooks minutes before his attempted assassination on Donald Trump
Crooks fired six shots at Trump from a nearby roof, only grazing his ear but killing a rally go-er behind him and injuring two others
Crooks fired six shots at Trump from a nearby roof, only grazing his ear but killing a rally go-er behind him and injuring two others
In one of the photos, Crooks is seen perched on a wall in a grassy area, using his cell phone.
Crooks appears to be very relaxed despite the fact he was about to commit a terribly violent act that killed one person in the crowd and injured two others.
The new photos now raise questions about whether Crooks might have been communicating with somebody, what he was looking at, and what was going through his mind at the time.
Despite an extensive investigation that resulted in Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigning, authorities have yet to determine Crooks’ motive or confirm whether he was truly acting alone.
Authorities also searched Crooks’ phone, turning up nothing.
However, they confirmed his final internet searches before his death were reportedly for pornography, according to The Daily Beast.
This has left many to wonder if the photos of Crooks’ final moments on his phone caught him searching for porn.
While questions surrounding Crooks’ final moments and motives remain in the air, other questions about the day have finally started to begin being answered.
Newly released records have shed light on the chaotic security planning ahead of the July 13 rally where questions about law enforcement’s coordination with the Secret Service have since mounted.
The documents, made public on Friday, reveal the behind-the-scenes tensions and decisions that preceded the tragic event.
“It’s going to be a circus there,” said Butler County Sheriff Michael Slupe in an email on July 5.
“Not enough room for the crowd that I believe will attend.”
As the rally approached, Sgt. Edward Lenz of the Adams Township Police Department emailed Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger on July 9.
He explained that the U.S. Secret Service had requested additional support from local law enforcement.
According to Lenz, the plan included deploying sniper elements, counterassault teams, and a quick reaction force to protect the former president from potential threats, whether from a single attacker or a coordinated assault.
Lenz described the upcoming rally as a “manpower-intensive” event, noting that the security operation would involve officers from nearby counties.
An internal “law enforcement walkthrough” was also scheduled for two days before the event.
But despite these preparations, the rally would end in tragedy when a lone gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from the roof of a nearby industrial complex just outside the rally’s perimeter.
The newly released records also reveal tensions between local and federal law enforcement in the aftermath of the shooting.
Internal text messages between local officials suggest that the Secret Service was attempting to shift blame onto local law enforcement.
“I see the Secret Service is throwing the locals under the bus,” wrote an individual identified as “Mccune” in Goldinger’s contact list.
Sheriff Slupe responded, “Yep.”
They can’t tell the truth right now. It will come out.” Goldinger added,
“I’ve tried to defend them. I just don’t have anything else I can say.”
In the days leading up to the event, County Commissioner Kevin Boozel expressed concerns that providing law enforcement services without a contract could be challenged as a campaign expense.
This concern led to a heated exchange with fellow commissioner Leslie Osche following the assassination attempt.
Boozel reached out to his colleagues to check on their well-being and informed them that the White House had offered assistance.
“How freakein dare you,” Osche responded angrily.
“We were right behind the President. You who wanted a contract.”
“Our people did well. You will burn in hell. We don’t need their help,” he said.
“I will fully expose you. I hope you can’t sleep,” Osche said.
Since the attempt on his life, Trump has been granted bulletproof glass and extra Secret Service detail at his rallies, which have been indoors since the attempted assassination.
The Secret Service has been reportedly pulling agents from President Joe Biden’s security detail and temporarily reassigning them to protect Trump at his rallies,” according to the New York Times.
“The increased threat of violence against Trump, combined with Biden’s recent reduced travel schedule, made the step both necessary and feasible,” an anonymous Secret Service official told The New York Times of the unprecedented move.
