Authorities discover explosives in Thomas Crooks’ car and home after his attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally. Investigation continues into his motives and background.
Bollywood Fever: Authorities have uncovered explosives in the vehicle and home of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally. Secret Service agents fatally shot Crooks seconds after he opened fire on Trump.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the explosives were found in Crooks’ vehicle and home following the incident. Crooks used an AR-15 rifle legally purchased by his father, Matthew Crooks, 53, in his assassination attempt.
During the attack, Crooks killed one rally attendee, identified as Corey Comperatore, and critically injured two others, who are currently being treated at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. A bullet grazed Trump’s right ear, but his campaign stated he is otherwise “fine.”
Crooks, who graduated from high school two years ago, parked his car near the rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania, before scaling a nearby industrial manufacturing building to target Trump. Reports of suspicious packages near Crooks’ vehicle led authorities to dispatch bomb technicians to the scene.
Investigators worked throughout the night to ensure the area was safe, which included searching Crooks’ home and speaking with his family. The FBI discovered additional explosives at the family’s Bethel Park residence.
The community where Crooks lived with his parents was heavily patrolled by police and Secret Service on Sunday morning. Neighbors described the family as quiet and reclusive.
Crooks was shot by Secret Service agents seconds after he began firing at the former president and presumed Republican presidential nominee. As Trump grabbed his right ear and ducked behind the podium, his security detail formed a protective barrier around him while the gunman was neutralized.
Despite the blood running down his face, Trump stood up, raised his fist, and repeatedly shouted “fight” as he was escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents.
Records show Crooks was a registered Republican and a 2022 high school graduate. He had made a donation to a progressive group supporting President Joe Biden on the day of the 2020 inauguration.
Crooks used an AR-style rifle to shoot at Trump from a rooftop approximately 130 yards from the rally stage in Butler, just before 6:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Images of Crooks, wearing glasses, braces, and an American flag t-shirt in his yearbook photo, surfaced on Sunday morning. The Bethel Park School District, where Crooks graduated high school, confirmed his graduation and is cooperating with investigators.
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