Slowly information is being released about the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. We now know that a drone was flown by the shooter, Thomas Crooks, just hours before the rally. That drone flew on a pre-programmed flight path, which suggests that Crooks had flown the drone over the rally site on previous occasions. Apparently Crooks went to the rally site shortly after the location was announced on July 3, in order to familiarize himself with the setting. He registered to attend the rally on July 7.
Crooks carried out internet searches for other campaign appearances by Trump and also investigated details about the Democratic National Convention in August. On July 13 Crooks attended the rally with two homemade explosive devices, and the AR-15 military-style assault rifle. He wore a ballistic vest that held three large-capacity magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition in each, and the rangefinder which drew attention from law enforcement an hour before the shooting.
