Thomas Matthew Crooks observed the configuration of the terrain in Donald Trump demonstration… allegedly flying a drone over the event before climbing onto a rooftop and opening fire.
The alleged killer filmed aerial footage with the drone just before Trump took the stage… law enforcement sources told The Wall Street Journal.
The attackers flew the drone along a pre-planned route… suggesting Trump’s shooter did a good job of scouting the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally site.
The drone was later found in Crooks’ car… and the Secret Service did NOT use drones to surveil the event.
07/13/24
TMZ.com
Crooks flying a drone and recording the rally add another layer to the litany of security blunders that lead to Trump being shot on stage in an assassination attempt that killed a man in the crowd.
TikTok / @djlaughatme
Remember…the Secret Service now says their counter-snipers spotted Crooks on the roof where he fired, noting him 20 minutes before he started shooting at Trump.
He was first identified as a person of interest about an hour before the shooting and then spotted with his rangefinder 22 minutes before he was first seen on the roof.
BBC News
The footage also shows Crooks peering into the building before making his ascent, and there is video of the participants pointing Crooks out to the police before the assassination attempt.
Add Crooks’ drone to the list of questions Congress will have for the Secret Service.