FBI Director Christopher Wray disclosed alarming new information Wednesday about the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, revealing the gunman's apparent fascination with the Kennedy assassination.
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Wray said that the shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, had searched online for "How far away was Oswald from Kennedy" just a week before the attack. This search, according to Wray, was "significant in terms of his state of mind."
The FBI director provided a detailed account of the events leading up to the shooting at a Trump campaign rally in western Pennsylvania. Crooks fired at least eight shots from an AR-15 rifle, killing one spectator and critically injuring two others. Former President Trump suffered a graze wound to the ear before Secret Service snipers neutralized the threat, killing Crooks.
Wray's testimony painted a picture of a meticulously planned attack. Crooks began focusing on Trump and the rally around July 6, the same day he registered to attend the event. He visited the site a week before and again on the morning of the shooting.
In a particularly concerning development, Crooks managed to fly a drone over the area for 11 minutes about two hours before Trump's speech, potentially livestreaming or viewing footage from the device.
Despite the extensive investigation, several questions remain unanswered. "We do not yet have a clear picture of his motive," Wray stated, adding that no evidence of co-conspirators has been found. The FBI reconstructed the drone's flight path but was unable to recover any video or images from the device.
The investigation also uncovered disturbing details about Crooks' arsenal. The AR-15 used in the attack was purchased from his father, who owned 14 legal firearms. Two "relatively crude" homemade bombs were found in Crooks' car, along with a transmitter on his body. However, Wray noted that the bombs were likely inoperable from Crooks' position on the roof.
The incident has led to significant fallout, including the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle on Tuesday. Questions persist about how Crooks, who had been identified as suspicious over an hour before the shooting, managed to evade security and carry out the attack.
As investigations continue, this attack marks the most serious security breach involving a former president since the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
The FBI and other agencies are working to piece together the full picture of Crooks' planning and motivation, while also reviewing security protocols to prevent future incidents.
* The Wall Street Journal contributed to this article.
