Thomas Mathew Crooks, a 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former United States President Donald Trump, searched online for details of John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
According to the FBI Director Christopher Wray, Crooks used his laptop to research Kennedy’s shooting and flew a drone near the rally area two hours before the incident.
The assassination attempt occurred on July 13, 2024, during Trump’s presidential campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Although Crooks missed his target after several shots, Secret Service operatives immediately neutralized him.
During congressional hearings, Wray disclosed that Crooks accessed the rally site by climbing rather than using a ladder and used a gun with a collapsible stock. He conducted a significant Google search on July 6: “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy,” revealing his state of mind.
Wray added, “Around 4 p.m., Crooks was flying the drone around the area of the rally, approximately 200 yards from the stage.”
This revelation was part of the wide-ranging House Judiciary Committee hearing where further details about the shooter’s actions and intentions were discussed.
