WHP580 Newsroom

WHP580 Newsroom

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FBI Says Trump Gunman Used Aliases To Buy Firearm Products

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed that the 20-year-old man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, used aliases to purchase firearms and explosives components online. The suspect, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service after he opened fire from a nearby rooftop, killing one spectator and critically injuring two others.

According to the FBI, Crooks had a growing interest in shooting and conducted internet searches related to power plants, mass shooting events, and the attempted assassination of Slovakia's prime minister earlier this year. "Starting in the spring of 2023, the subject made more than 25 different firearms related purchases from online firearms vendor using an alias," said Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office. In the first half of 2024, Crooks also made six chemical precursor-related purchases online of materials used to create the explosive devices recovered in his vehicle and home.

Crooks used foreign-based encrypted email accounts to purchase firearm components, chemicals, and other explosive components. The FBI initially had trouble gaining access to these accounts due to their encryption, but upon accessing them, investigators found that Crooks was primarily using the emails to make online purchases.

Despite the alarming findings, Crooks' parents were reportedly unaware of their son's intentions. They told investigators that their son had a long-standing interest in science and experiments, and they did not suspect that the materials he had could be used for an attack.

The FBI is treating the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and an attempted assassination. The investigation is ongoing, and former President Trump has agreed to sit for a victim interview with the FBI.


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