New Delhi: In a chilling account of premeditated violence, Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who attempted to assassinate US presidential candidate Donald Trump, managed to fly a drone and capture aerial footage of the western Pennsylvania fairgrounds shortly before Trump was scheduled to speak, The Wall Street Journal reports. This incident underscores significant security lapses in the lead-up to the near-fatal attack on the former president.According to law enforcement officials, Crooks piloted the drone on a programmed flight path on July 13, surveying the Butler Farm Show grounds ahead of Trumps rally. The predetermined path suggests Crooks likely flew the drone multiple times to gather detailed information about the event site. The WSJ report adds that Crooks began researching the rally site soon after the Trump campaign announced the event on July 3 and registered for it on July 7. He visited the farm show grounds a few days later for further reconnaissance.Weapons and intentionsOn July 13, Crooks returned to the site with two homemade bombs designed to be remotely detonated, equipped with receivers similar to those used for fireworks. Investigators found these rudimentary explosives in Crooks car parked near the grounds, along with a ballistic vest containing three 30-round magazines, indicating his intent to cause more significant harm. Crooks backgroundInvestigators have determined that Crooks, who lived about 80 kilometers from Butler, acted alone and have not identified any strong ideological or political leanings. Crooks, who lived with his parents, worked in a retirement home, and recently graduated from community college, had already been flagged as suspicious by law enforcement.A search of his electronic devices— a laptop and two cellphones—revealed recent internet searches about Trump, President Joe Biden, the dates of the Butler rally, and the upcoming Democratic convention. Other searches included queries about FBI director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and a member of the British royal family.Dramatic confrontationThe situation escalated dramatically when two police officers, alerted by a bystander, approached Crooks. By this time, he was on the roof, belly crawling. “Hes got a gun,” a bystander yelled. One officer hoisted the other to the lip of the roof. As the officer pulled his head over the edge, he saw Crooks, a long-haired young man wearing glasses, wielding an AR-15-style rifle. The officer quickly dropped back to the ground, according to the Butler County sheriff.This incident raises serious concerns about event security and the potential for premeditated attacks on high-profile individuals. As investigations continue, questions about the adequacy of security measures and the effectiveness of pre-event surveillance are likely to persist.
