Photo: Rebecca Droke Agence France-Presse Donald Trump supporters applaud Donald Trump during a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024.
France Media Agency in Washington
Published at 2:25 p.m. Updated at 7:40 p.m.
- United States
Research into the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, flight over the site with a drone, remotely activated explosive devices: the head of the FBI gave more details on Wednesday on the progress of the investigation relating to the attempted assassination against Donald Trump and the profile of its perpetrator.
“We don’t yet have a clear idea of his motivations,” said FBI boss Christopher Wray , questioned by the commission of inquiry set up by Congress. “We continue to dig, because this remains a central question for us. »
On a roof of a building overlooking the gathering in Butler, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire on Saturday, July 13, shortly after 6 p.m. , on the Republican candidate, slightly injuring his ear. The latter had claimed to have been “hit by a bullet which pierced the top of [his] right ear”.
“As for former President Trump, there's some question as to whether it was a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear,” Wray said.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The shooting resulted in the death of a participant in his 50s and injured two other people.
The shooter, who was shot dead by the officers responsible for protecting Mr. Trump, had “conducted extensive research on various personalities,” without a specific objective being identified, but “from July 6, he focused more specifically on the former president Trump and his rally,” added Wray.
Among the searches conducted, the shooter queried the Google search engine with the phrase “how far was [Lee Harvey] Oswald from [John F.] Kennedy,” referring to the alleged perpetrator of the American president’s assassination in 1963.
Eight shell casings
The FBI currently has no evidence that Mr. Crooks had accomplices or that he did not act alone.
However, the shooter reportedly scouted the area a little over two hours before the rally began using a drone that was found in his vehicle.
According to the FBI, Thomas Crooks also went to the rally site at least three times, including twice on the same day, before the event took place.
Searches of his home also revealed two explosive devices in another vehicle, “rather basic” and remotely activated, the detonator of which had been found on the shooter's body.
“It seems that if he had tried to detonate these devices from the roof, it would not have worked. But that does not mean that these devices were not dangerous,” insisted Christopher Wray.
Questioned about the number of his shots, the FBI director clarified that eight shell casings were found on the roof.
Thomas Crooks had purchased 50 rounds of ammunition the day of the assassination attempt and had gone to a shooting range the day before , further specified Mr. Wray.
The reaction of the Secret Service, responsible for the protection of senior American political figures, was strongly criticized while spectators had reported to the authorities, shortly before the shooting, the presence of an armed man.
The director of the Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, announced her resignation on Tuesday, after admitting before a congressional commission of inquiry the failure of her agency to prevent the assassination attempt.
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