Trump shooting updates: Shooter flew drone near site hours before shooting
One spectator was killed and two were hurt in the shooting on July 13.
Federal authorities are investigating after former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The alleged shooter was killed by snipers. One spectator was killed and two were hurt, officials said.
Trump Rally Shooting: Slideshow
Not clear if bullet or shrapnel hit Trump’s ear, Wray says
It’s not clear if a bullet or shrapnel hit former President Donald Trump’s ear, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.
"With respect to former President Trump, there's some question about whether or not it's a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear," Wray said in response to a question from Chairman Jim Jordan asking whether the FBI has accounted for all bullets fired by the shooter. "It's conceivable, although as I sit here right now, I don't know whether that bullet, in addition to causing the grazing, could have also landed somewhere else. But I believe we've accounted for all the shots in the cartridges."
FBI agents determined Crooks' father purchased the firearm used in the shooting in 2013 and sold it to his son in October 2023, Wray said.
Shooter accessed roof using mechanical equipment on ground, piping on side of building
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, accessed the roof of the AGR building using mechanical equipment on the ground and piping on the side of the building, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.
Crooks visited a gun range a day before the shooting, Wray said.
Gunman described as 'loner,' had few contacts in his phone
It appears the shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was a "loner" and didn't have a lot of contacts in his phone, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.
"A lot of people describe him as a loner. That does kind of fit with what we're seeing in his devices, you know, his list of contacts, for example, is very short, compared to what you would normally see from most people. Doesn't appear to be a whole lot of interaction between him, you know, face-to-face or digital, with a lot of people," Wray said.
The FBI has conducted over 400 interviews, with "many more to conduct," he said.
-ABC News’ Luke Barr
Shooter's gun had 'collapsible stock,' which is easy to conceal
The weapon used by the gunman had a "collapsible stock," meaning Thomas Matthew Crooks could easily conceal the gun at the rally, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.
"The weapon had a collapsible stock, which could explain why it might have been less easy for people to observe," he said.
Wray said that the shooter was not on the FBI's radar and there were no FBI assets at the rally.
Wray said there were 14 guns in the home where Crooks lived.
-ABC News’ Luke Barr
Gunman searched online, 'How far away was Oswald from Kennedy'
Starting on July 6, the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, became "very focused" on former President Donald Trump and the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.
"On July 6, he did a Google search for, 'How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?'" Wray said.
The shooter went to the rally site a week before the assassination attempt and spent about 20 minutes there, Wray said.
"Then he went to grounds again on the morning of the event, it appears, for about 17 minutes," Wray said.
Crooks went to the site a third time "for good,” Wray said.
-ABC News’ Luke Barr
Authorities still don’t have clear picture of shooter’s motive: Wray
Authorities still "do not yet have a clear picture" of the Trump rally shooter's motive, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
"The shooter appears to have done a lot of searches of public figures in general, but so far we’re seeing, kind of, news articles and things like that," he said.
"We’re doing a lot of work right now and some more to come on that," Wray added.
Shooter flew drone 200 yards from site hours before shooting
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, flew a drone about 200 yards from the rally venue, and had it up in the air for about 11 minutes, just hours before the shooting, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
The drone -- which was recovered in the shooter’s car -- was flown at about 3:50 p.m., he said.
"Let me be clear about the area -- not over the stage, and that part of the area itself, but, I would say, about 200 yards, give or take, away," he said. "And that we think, but we do not know. So again, this is one of these things that's qualified because of our ongoing review."
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