The gunman who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump reportedly purchased 50 rounds of ammunition just hours before he targeted the former president during a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Thomas Matthew Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition at a local gun store just hours before opening fire on Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing him in the ear, killing a heroic volunteer firefighter who was in the crowd, and severely wounding two others. A senior law enforcement official told CNN on Monday.
Crooks was on the roof of a factory about 130 yards from Trump’s rally when he fired eight shots at the gunman, and a Secret Service sniper responded quickly, returning fire and instantly killing the 20-year-old Crooks.
He was found in possession of an AR-style semi-automatic assault rifle purchased by his father and was wearing a shirt from the popular firearms YouTube channel “Demolition Ranch.”
A loner who was “relentlessly” bullied in high school, according to former classmates, Crooks was a registered Republican who had made only one donation, when he was 17, to the liberal political action committee Act Blue.
It was not immediately clear Sunday why Crooks targeted the former president.
Law enforcement sources told The Post that as of Sunday, the gunman’s online manifesto and a specific motive were unknown.
That’s horrible Images from the aftermath of the shooting were shared online The footage showed a Secret Service sniper standing next to Crooks’ body, which was lying limp on the ground dressed all in grey, with blood running down his face and long brown hair.
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The chaotic attack on Trump was also captured on horrifying video footage, showing the former president being wrestled to the ground by Secret Service agents just seconds after gunshots rang out.
Seconds later, Trump stood up, ordered security to “wait,” then raised his fist and yelled “fight!” at the agitated crowd.
Authorities said the attack left one protester dead and two spectators seriously injured, although their condition was not immediately known as of Monday.
