FBI identifies Trump rally shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks <--- Thread is about the perpetrator, the crime, and the motivation, not Trump

[RDKirk]

In addition to Trump and Biden, the shooter had photos of Attorney General Merrick Garland and a member of the British royal family saved on his phone, two people familiar with the probe said.

He had searched for information about major depressive disorder, the rally in Butler, Pa., and the Democratic National Convention scheduled for August.

Both of his parents have health issues, and while the young man lived with them, so far it does not appear to investigators that they were keeping close tabs on his activities or interests in the days and months leading up to the shooting, these people said.

More reason for me to believe he had no special ire for Trump in particular...Trump was just the highest profile "target" that became available to him.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

Investigators now believe account on gaming site in would-be assassin’s name is fake​

That was fast

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

More reason for me to believe he had no special ire for Trump in particular...Trump was just the highest profile "target" that became available to him.

It does seem to be pointing that direction. Guy just wanted to be famous.

 

[essentialsaltes]

In addition to the photos of Trump and Biden, law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told CNN the shooter’s phone also contained pictures of congressional leaders, such as the Democrats’ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

There were also pictures of others across the political spectrum including Rudy Giuliani, who is under indictment in Georgia, and Fani Willis, the district attorney who was prosecuting him.

Almost all of the pictures appeared to have been downloaded from the Internet and were not accompanied by any threatening language or messages regarding those in the pictures.

Sources briefed on the investigation tell CNN the phone also showed searches dating back to spring, looking for the dates and locations of Donald Trump rallies and for information on the two conventions.

 

[Ana the Ist]

legit lol

Lol I made the IHOP stuff up...but if we're going to use the acronym, we may as well take advantage of the chance to address the obesity epidemic in the US.

 

[Ana the Ist]

In addition to the photos of Trump and Biden, law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told CNN the shooter’s phone also contained pictures of congressional leaders, such as the Democrats’ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

There were also pictures of others across the political spectrum including Rudy Giuliani, who is under indictment in Georgia, and Fani Willis, the district attorney who was prosecuting him.

Almost all of the pictures appeared to have been downloaded from the Internet and were not accompanied by any threatening language or messages regarding those in the pictures.

Sources briefed on the investigation tell CNN the phone also showed searches dating back to spring, looking for the dates and locations of Donald Trump rallies and for information on the two conventions.

I bet he was posting the pics somewhere....active on some political forum.

Come to think of it...I haven't seen Brad ski on here in a bit. Probably just a coincidence...

 

[Ana the Ist]

It does seem to be pointing that direction. Guy just wanted to be famous.

There's a video of a "former classmate" making the rounds that seems to dismiss what little is spread about him so far....

But I can't put much faith in these classmate accounts.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Crooks had also searched for information on another recent mass shooter who shot and killed four classmates at a Michigan high school in 2021. The web searches about that shooter, Ethan Crumbley, are consistent with what law enforcement officials have seen in other mass shooters who research people they wish to emulate, in part, as a way to form their own idea of how to do something bigger, the federal official said.

--

Dunno if it's significant, but the one thing that really distinguishes Crumbley is that his parents have faced legal trouble for buying and allowing access to the weapon. And Crooks also used a weapon his father bought.

 

[Goonie]

Crooks had also searched for information on another recent mass shooter who shot and killed four classmates at a Michigan high school in 2021. The web searches about that shooter, Ethan Crumbley, are consistent with what law enforcement officials have seen in other mass shooters who research people they wish to emulate, in part, as a way to form their own idea of how to do something bigger, the federal official said.

--

Dunno if it's significant, but the one thing that really distinguishes Crumbley is that his parents have faced legal trouble for buying and allowing access to the weapon. And Crooks also used a weapon his father bought.

10 years previous. Yes he might have thought about his parents liability.

 

[ozso]

@Ceallaigh

Thank you! It's not her. It's the one in the pink hat. He said she was recording it and noted odd things about her behavior. But I'll have to watch it closely to confirm.

~bella

I think this is probably it:

 

[wing2000]

In addition to the photos of Trump and Biden, law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told CNN the shooter’s phone also contained pictures of congressional leaders, such as the Democrats’ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

There were also pictures of others across the political spectrum including Rudy Giuliani, who is under indictment in Georgia, and Fani Willis, the district attorney who was prosecuting him.

Almost all of the pictures appeared to have been downloaded from the Internet and were not accompanied by any threatening language or messages regarding those in the pictures.

Sources briefed on the investigation tell CNN the phone also showed searches dating back to spring, looking for the dates and locations of Donald Trump rallies and for information on the two conventions.

VP Candidate JD Vance: (two hours after the shooting)

"Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination."

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a top VP contender, blames Trump shooting on Biden 'rhetoric'

One person was killed and two others injured after a shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. The former president is safe.

www.cincinnati.com

 

[Merrill]

VP Candidate JD Vance: (two hours after the shooting)

"Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination."

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a top VP contender, blames Trump shooting on Biden 'rhetoric'

One person was killed and two others injured after a shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. The former president is safe.

www.cincinnati.com

JD Vance is correct on this

or have people forgotten things like Kathy Griffin holding a bloody Trump head, and the countless posts on social media calling for violence against the ex-president?

calling your political opponent a "threat to democracy" a "threat to the republic" and a "Fascist" is equivalent to telling the public that Trump either gets beaten in the election, or they should remove him by other means. A lot of Democrats want Trump dead

 

[wing2000]

JD Vance is correct on this

or have people forgotten things like Kathy Griffin holding a bloody Trump head, and the countless posts on social media calling for violence against the ex-president?

calling your political opponent a "threat to democracy" a "threat to the republic" and a "Fascist" is equivalent to telling the public that Trump either gets beaten in the election, or they should remove him by other means. A lot of Democrats want Trump dead

1 week later, there is zero evidence to suggest the shooter had a poltical motive. Photos of Biden, Trump, Attorney General, Royal family member were all found on his phone. More evidence could come to light of course.

The point is: JD Vance, as a Senator and VP nominee, was wrong and irresponsible to suggest the the shooter was motiveated by any politcal rhetoric. He did so 2 hours after the event.... His action speaks to his lack of judgement and responsiblity as a leader.

 

[wing2000]

The gunman likely used a drone to survey the site...

Investigators found a small drone in the car owned by the gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump — and believe it was used to survey the site of Mr. Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa., at least once before the shooting, according to law enforcement officials.

Thomas Crooks, 20, visited the area near the fairgrounds used for the rally on July 7 — six days before the event — and appears to have made another trip the morning of the shooting, according to geolocation data found on one of his two cellphones, the officials said.

At some point last Saturday, Mr. Crooks seems to have flown the drone to gather footage for a layout of the Butler Farm Show grounds using a preprogrammed flight path, according to an official briefed on the situation who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about a continuing investigation.

...

On Friday, July 12, the day before the rally, Mr. Crooks spent much of the day at the gun range, his parents told investigators. On Saturday, he went to Home Depot at 9:30 a.m. to buy a ladder. He purchased 50 rounds of ammunition later in the afternoon and drove to the rally. Investigators do not believe he used a ladder to ascend to the roof of the warehouse he used as a perch — about 450 feet from Mr. Trump’s podium, just outside the official perimeter of the rally.

A video aired by a Pittsburgh-area TV station showed Mr. Crooks, hand in pocket, walking along the perimeter of the warehouse just before Mr. Trump took the stage.

The Secret Service did not seek to use drones to provide agents with aerial views of the rally, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. The security contingent responsible for protecting Mr. Trump did not request a waiver from the F.A.A. needed to conduct drone operations in restricted airspace, as is typically put into effect when a former president is appearing outdoors, an agency spokesman said.

Gunman at Trump Rally Had Drone in Car, Possibly to Scope Out the Site

Investigators have information that suggests a man intent on assassinating former President Donald J. Trump flew the device over the campaign event location on the day of the shooting.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Merrill]

Stop

1 week later, there is zero evidence to suggest the shooter had a poltical motive. Photos of Biden, Trump, Attorney General, Royal family member were all found on his phone. More evidence could come to light of course.

The point is: JD Vance, as a Senator and VP nominee, was wrong and irresponsible to suggest the the shooter was motiveated by any politcal rhetoric. He did so 2 hours after the event.... His action speaks to his lack of judgement and responsiblity as a leader.

stop pretending to know what the motive of the killer was --we still don't know

and my post was not about that: it was pointing out that Democrats have used violent rhetoric and dogwhistles in regards to Trump for over 8 years

 

[bèlla]

I think this is probably it:

Thank you! I'll watch it and review his statements. If there's merit I'll share them. I appreciate your help.

~bella

 

[Goonie]

Stop

stop pretending to know what the motive of the killer was --we still don't know

and my post was not about that: it was pointing out that Democrats have used violent rhetoric and dogwhistles in regards to Trump for over 8 years

Remind me what where the first three words out of Trumps mouth after the attempt?

Violent language is hardly the sole province of the Democrats.

 

[Goonie]

"Now, if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that's going to be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it."

Those Democrats and their violent language!!!

Oh, sorry that is Donald.

 

[loveofourlord]

"Now, if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that's going to be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it."

Those Democrats and their violent language!!!

Oh, sorry that is Donald.

or the email he released literally just before he went to the rally?

 

[BPPLEE]

"Now, if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that's going to be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it."

Those Democrats and their violent language!!!

Oh, sorry that is Donald.

Trump's 'Bloodbath' Comment - FactCheck.org

While speaking about the potential loss of U.S. auto manufacturing jobs to foreign countries, former President Donald Trump said if he isn't elected, "it’s going to be a bloodbath for the country."

www.factcheck.org

The Trump campaign also noted — rightly — that one of the definitions of “bloodbath,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a major economic disaster.” We did a Nexis search of TV news transcripts and found numerous instances of bloodbath being used in that way.