World Courant
BETHEL PARK, Pa. – FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that his company continues to be not sure how Thomas Matthew Crooks accessed the roof of the constructing the place he took intention at former President Donald Trump – however they do not consider he used a ladder.
Even though a “bloodied receipt” discovered on Crooks’ lifeless physique included a 5-foot ladder buy, Wray informed the Home Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, his company believes that “the topic climbed onto the roof utilizing some mechanical gear, on the bottom and vertical piping on the facet of the AGR constructing” on July 13.
“In different phrases, we don’t consider he used a ladder to stand up there,” he stated in Washington, D.C.
TIMELINE: TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Thomas Matthew Crooks is pictured in entrance of the Butler Fairgrounds within the aftermath of the tried assassination of the previous president on July 14, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Bethel Park College District/Getty Photos)
“We didn’t discover the ladder on the scene,” Wray informed Rep. Steve Cohen. “He did purchase a ladder. However the ladder was not discovered on the scene.”
“The ladder did not have any ft on it – it did not stroll off,” Cohen joked in response.
FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY TESTIFIES ABOUT TRUMP RALLY ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Buildings which might be adjoining to The Butler Farm Present, web site of a marketing campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, are seen Monday, July 15, 2024, in Butler, Pa. Thomas Crooks fired from the roof of the constructing complicated and wounded Trump on July 13 throughout an assassination try. (AP Picture/Gene J. Puskar)
Pictured is the constructing that Thomas Crooks clambered as much as shoot at former President Donald Trump – former NYPD inspector Paul Mauro suspects that Crooks used the hallway adjoining the 2 buildings to get onto the roof and stashed his AR-15 within the air con unit pictured. (Fox Information)
The Residence Depot the place Crooks bought the ladder is a quick drive from his household’s residence on Milford Drive in Bethel Park. Residence Depot has not responded to Fox Information Digital’s requests for remark.
Wray stated outside occasions, like concert events and political rallies, are “typically… significantly difficult to safe adequately, as a result of the vary of threats that may face them are greater.”
TRUMP SHOOTER MADE CHILLING GOOGLE SEARCH ON DAY HE REGISTERED FOR BUTLER RALLY
FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies throughout a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee listening to on the FBI’s proposed funds for the 2025 fiscal yr on June 4, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Samuel Corum/Getty Photos)
“Along with that… simply threats to public officers, together with politicians, is an more and more pervasive a part of at present’s panorama. And in order that provides to the problem,” Wray continued.
Utilizing drone footage from the scene of the capturing on the Butler Farm Present grounds, Fox Information contributor Paul Mauro identified attainable entry factors to Crooks’ vantage level earlier this week.
A hallway adjoining the constructing to a different beside it offered an entry level the place Crooks might have clambered onto the roof, Mauro stated. An air con unit seen from above could also be the place he stashed his AR-15 forward of the rally, sources informed Mauro.
TRUMP SHOOTER MADE HOME DEPOT VISIT PRIOR TO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Exterior view of a Residence Depot retailer at 4000 Oxford Drive, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The shop is reportedly the situation the place Thomas Crooks purchased a ladder earlier than he tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday. (Sarah Rumpf / Fox Information Digital)
Wray’s testimony on Wednesday revealed different new particulars: on the day he registered to attend the rally, Crooks carried out a Google seek for “how far-off was Oswald from Kennedy.”
Wray additionally elaborated on Crooks’ stash of weapons, together with two explosive gadgets present in his automobile close to the Butler rally and another in his residence.
Two FBI investigators scan the roof of AGR Worldwide Inc, the constructing adjoining to the Butler Fairgrounds, from which shooter Matthew Thomas Crooks fired at former President Trump on July 13. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Photos)
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Primarily based on his on-line exercise, Wray stated, 20-year-old Crooks “grew to become very targeted on former President Trump and his rally” round July 6.
“That is a search that clearly is important by way of his way of thinking,” Wray added.
