FBI reveals more details about shooter who tried to kill Donald Trump: He spent months looking for a target

The shooting attempt to assassinate the former president Donald Trump He scoured the internet for events involving both Trump and the president. Joe BidenHe repeatedly sought information about explosives and saw his shooting at a Pennsylvania campaign rally last month as a “target of opportunity,” a senior administration official said Wednesday. FBI.

The researchers, who conducted nearly 1,000 interviews, had no excuse Thomas Matthew Crooks20, shot and killed Trump during a campaign rally on July 13, but they believe he carried out “extensive planning of the attack,” including targeting campaign events involving the current and former president, particularly in western Pennsylvania.

Thomas Crooks, 20, FBI officials said.Information about the former president and his then-contest was searched more than 60 timesBefore registering at Trump’s rally in early July.

The FBI’s analysis of online search history “reveals a protracted and extensive effort to plan an attack against certain instances,” which means it was analyzed. Any number of events or purposeshe told reporters on Wednesday Kevin RozekSpecial Agent in Charge of the Pittsburgh Field Office of the FBI.

When Trump’s July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was announced, Rojek said, “He became very focused on that particular event and saw it as a target of opportunity.” Crooks’ Internet searches in the days leading up to the rally included questions about the rally’s land, “Where will Trump speak at the Butler Farm Show?”, “Butler Farm Show Podium,” and “Butler Farm Show Photos.”

The new details add to an evolving portrait of Crooks as a man. Explosives, disturbing interest in major events and prominent political figuresBut Internet searches for major parties have thwarted attempts to assign a simple motive.

“We have a clear idea of ​​the attitude, but we’re not ready to make any concrete statements about the intent at this time,” Rojek said.

The FBI has confirmed that Trump was shot in the ear during the attack. Crooks on the roof of a nearby building, He fired eight shots before being shot By a secret service sniper.

Crooks’ computer activity indicated he was interested in a mix of ideologies, but did not conclusively show he was motivated by a particular left-wing or right-wing viewpoint, he added.

FBI officials said they could not be found There is no evidence that Crooks worked with others or directed by a foreign power.

(With information from AP and Reuters)