Law enforcement officials have revealed that a small drone was discovered in the car belonging to the individual who attempted to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump. It is believed that the drone was utilized to survey the location of Mr. Trump’s rally in Butler, Pa., at least once before the violent incident took place.
Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old, was identified as the individual involved in the assassination attempt. He was reported to have visited the area near the fairgrounds designated for the rally on July 7, six days prior to the event. Geolocation data retrieved from one of his cellphones indicated that he made another trip to the site on the morning of the shooting.
Investigators suggest that Mr. Crooks may have flown the drone to capture footage of the Butler Farm Show grounds using a preprogrammed flight path on the day of the incident. The drone discovery was delayed due to the initial discovery of explosive devices and other items in his vehicle following the shooting.
Upon searching his Hyundai Sonata, investigators found two rudimentary explosive devices, several rifle magazines, and a bulletproof vest. Additionally, Mr. Crooks’s two cellphones and other electronic devices were analyzed by F.B.I. technicians to ascertain his motive behind the attempted assassination.
