July 18, 2024, coverage of the Trump assassination attempt | CNN Politics

Thomas Matthew Crooks visited the Donald Trump rally location twice, his cell phone contained images of both Trump and President Joe Biden, and the would-be assassin’s search history included dates of the Democratic National Convention as well as future Trump events, three US officials told CNN.

The new details revealed more about what Crooks was doing in the days and hours leading up to his attempt to assassinate the former president. But investigators combing through Crooks’ physical and digital trail still lack the key detail that would explain why the 20-year-old climbed the roof in Butler, Pennsylvania, with an AR-style weapon: a motive.

A source told CNN that about 19 minutes before the shooting occurred, law enforcement was trying to locate the shooter, but they could not find him until he was on the roof.

Police responded to a call of a “suspicious male” around the same time that Trump arrived for his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, according to Butler Township Manager Tom Knights.

Knights said Wednesday that the report placed him near the AGR building, where Trump’s would-be assassin ultimately launched his attack.

Knights said an officer tried to access the roof with the help of a colleague who tried to hoist him up. The officer scaling the side of the building saw someone on the roof who pointed a rifle at him, Knights said.

Butler Township Police “immediately” communicated the shooter’s location but, “Moments later, the individual commenced firing,” according to the statement.

From the roof of the building, which was roughly 150 yards north of the rally stage, Crooks fired several shots at Trump, grazing him in the ear and hitting several rally attendees, including one who was killed.

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