BUTLER, Pa. – The individual who targeted former President Trump in an assassination attempt and tragically claimed the life of a supporter in Butler, Pennsylvania, had been surveying the location of the July 13 rally while local law enforcement was positioned.
A comprehensive timeline and associated text messages, acquired by Fox News Digital from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who received them from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit (ESU), offered further insights into how Thomas Matthew Crooks managed to set up his AR-styled rifle and fire upon the crowd.
As per the timeline made public by the Beaver County ESU, local law enforcement officials were in their designated locations by 10:15 a.m., with local snipers taking their positions by 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 13.
Photos from the Beaver County ESU depicted the snipers’ positioning amid the structures at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
A photo of Thomas Matthew Crooks shared by local law enforcement on the day of the shooting, July 13, 2024. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
A map outlining key locations in the investigation of Thomas Crooks’ assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Provided by Senator Chuck Grassley)
Recent updates regarding Crooks’ activities prior to the shooting indicate the 20-year-old was monitoring the area right when local law enforcement and snipers were taking their positions.
The FBI previously disclosed that at 11 a.m. on July 13, Crooks arrived at the rally site and stayed there for about an hour before returning home.
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A sniper position from either Beaver or Butler County is set up at the rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. The former president was shot during an assassination attempt at the rally. (Provided by Senator Chuck Grassley)
Crooks returned to the rally site at 3:50 p.m. Local law enforcement first spotted him at around 5:10 p.m.—approximately 50 minutes before Trump was scheduled to take the stage, according to materials shared by Grassley’s office.
Upon his return, Crooks operated a drone roughly 200 yards away from where Trump was expected to speak, as stated by the FBI.
Following an investigation, the FBI announced that no images or videos were captured by the drone, and no memory card was found within it.
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An evidence photo exhibits the bicycle and backpack left behind by Thomas Crooks before his assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (Provided by Senator Chuck Grassley)
At 5:30 p.m., local law enforcement captured an image of Crooks and escalated it to their command.
“Kid learning around building we are in,” an officer noted in a text, alongside an image of Crooks. “AGR I believe it is. I did see him with a range finder looking towards stage. FYI. If you want to notify SS snipers to keep an eye out.”
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“I lost sight of him,” the officer continued.
Law enforcement distributed a picture of Thomas Matthew Crooks, as shown in the texts. (Fox News)
A subsequent message stated: “Call it in to command and have a uniform check it out.”
By 6:12 p.m., Crooks was shot dead by a counter-sniper after he opened fire on rally attendees.
Trump sustained a bullet graze to his ear, and three attendees were injured, including Corey Comperatore, 50, who was killed while trying to protect his family.
James Copenhaver and David Dutch were injured during the rally when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire. (Allegheny Health Network)
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David Dutch and James Copenhaver were injured during the rally but have since returned home.
