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Investigators have information suggesting that a man who was attempting to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump flew the device over the campaign event on the day of the shooting.
By Glenn Thrush, Adam Goldman, and Mark Walker
Report from Washington
Investigators discovered a small drone in the car belonging to the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump, and it was used to monitor the site of Trump’s rally in Butler, Washington, Pennsylvania, at least once before the shooting. according to the authorities.
Thomas Crooks, 20, traveled to the ground near the fairgrounds used for the July 7 rally — six days before the event — and gave the impression of having done another one on the morning of the shooting, according to geolocation data discovered on one of his two mobile phones. The officials said.
At one point last Saturday, Crooks appeared to have flown the drone to gather images for a layout of the Butler Farm Show grounds with a pre-programmed flight path, according to an official briefed on the scenario who requested anonymity because the user It was not authorized. communicate about an ongoing investigation.
The discovery of the drone was delayed when investigators discovered two rudimentary explosive devices in his Hyundai Sonata shortly after Mr. Crooks, a highly intelligent and technologically complicated network school graduate, was shot dead by a sniper after bloody Mr. Trump, killing one. guy in the crowd and seriously injured two others.
Investigators also discovered several magazines for the rifle he was carrying and a bulletproof vest in the vehicle.
In recent days, the F. B. I. technicians analyzed the drone in their lab, along with two of Crooks’ phones and other electronic devices in hopes of discovering their motive.
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