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From Fox News: The man authorities say attempted to assassinate former President Trump had explosives inside his car, found parked near the Pennsylvania rally, and bomb making materials at his home, sources tell Fox News.
There were explosives, including an IED, found inside a car driven by Thomas Matthew Crooks found parked near the scene of the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, sources confirmed to Fox News.
The sources could not say how many explosives or what kind, but emphasized that more than one was found. In Crooks’ house, law enforcement found bomb-making materials, the sources told Fox News.
The Wall Street Journal, who also reported on the discovery of bomb-making materials, noted that, so far, investigators haven’t found a manifesto or any writings by the gunman that could reveal a motive for the attempted assassination of the former president.
Crooks, 20, just graduated from Bethel Park High School two years ago.
Investigators reportedly told the Associated Press that the gun Crooks used to target Trump had been purchased by his father at least six months ago. During the rally, Crooks climbed to the roof of a building about 130 yards away from where Trump was speaking on the stage, and fired at him with an AR-style rifle, striking Trump’s ear.
One rally attendee, identified as Corey Comperatore, 50, a former fire chief for Buffalo Township, was killed in the shooting while trying to protect his wife and daughter. Two others were critically injured.
Crooks’ political status:
Reuters shared the following details: Crooks was a registered Republican who would have been eligible to cast his first presidential vote in the Nov. 5 election in which Trump is challenging President Joe Biden. Public records show his father is a registered Republican and mother a registered Democrat.
Federal Election Commission filings show Crooks appears to have made a small $15 donation several years ago to a political action committee called ActBlue that raises money for left-leaning and Democratic politicians. The donation was earmarked for the Progressive Turnout Project, a national group that rallies Democrats to vote.
Our latest from Bethel Park, PA, just one street from the shooter’s home. All entrances to his street have been blocked.
The bomb squad went down the street behind me less than 2 hours ago-per AP, material was found in his car & home.
Listen to what a former classmate told me: pic.twitter.com/cTd1jj82HV
— Alex Miller (@AlexMillerNews) July 14, 2024
The bomb squad just arrived at shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks’ home in Bethel Park. @scrippsnews pic.twitter.com/4QjkKBrJr2
— Alex Miller (@AlexMillerNews) July 14, 2024
In Bethel Park, PA, where federal authorities are searching the suspected Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks’ home. Local police have a perimeter extending for many blocks in all directions. https://t.co/2MkqNSd57W pic.twitter.com/jbXSMVzJ3R
— Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) July 14, 2024
#BREAKING: Two of my contacts in Bethel Park just sent me two recent yearbook photos of the gunman, Thomas Crooks.
We are LIVE outside the street where he lived, as law enforcement swarms his neighborhood after evacuating those who live nearby. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/lFi1OtW5Yu
— MEGHAN SCHILLER (@MeghanKDKA) July 14, 2024
Authorities found explosive devices in the car of the man who officials say tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump, according to people briefed on the investigation https://t.co/FzexcKtGVD https://t.co/FzexcKtGVD
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 14, 2024
Would-be Trump assassin had explosives in car parked near rally, bomb-making materials at home: reportshttps://t.co/fjnMPU8yzm
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 14, 2024
Little is known about the 20-year-old suspect in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at this stage, and a motive for the attack wasn’t clear. A voter-registration card showed he was at one time registered as a Republican.
Follow our live updates: https://t.co/28WaxZRM9f
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) July 14, 2024
