Trump Agrees to FBI Interview Following Rally Shooting Incident
Washington — Former President Donald Trump has consented to participate in an FBI interview described by the bureau as a “standard victim interview” to discuss the attempted assassination against him during a rally in Pennsylvania earlier this month, an FBI official confirmed during a call with reporters.
Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, stated that the bureau reached out to Trump, who agreed to the interview, although the timing remains unclear.
“We want to get his perspective on what he observed,” Rojek said, emphasizing the routine nature of the interview.
The FBI has been actively investigating the shooting that occurred at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, conducting over 450 interviews in the process. The bureau is particularly focused on identifying the motive of the gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, and is seeking information from 86 companies, including various gaming and social media platforms.
Crooks opened fire on the rally crowd with an AR-style rifle, injuring Trump and two others, and tragically killing one attendee. The shooter was subsequently killed by a Secret Service sniper. The FBI has indicated that Crooks acted alone, with no accomplices or co-conspirators identified to date.
FBI Director Chris Wray informed lawmakers that, although a “clear picture” of the gunman’s motive has yet to emerge, investigators believe Crooks became focused on Trump and the rally in Butler around July 6. Notably, a laptop linked to Crooks revealed that he conducted a Google search for “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy,” a reference to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. This search coincided with the day Crooks registered to attend the rally.
Additionally, agents recovered three “relatively crude” explosive devices from Crooks, with two located in his vehicle and one at his residence. Wray informed the House Judiciary Committee that the gunman possessed a transmitter that could have allowed him to detonate the explosives remotely, although the devices’ receivers were found to be turned off.
The FBI has indicated that Crooks conducted various online searches, including information on power plants, improvised explosive devices, and the assassination attempt against the prime minister of Slovakia in May.
New Details on the Shooting Incident
Rojek provided a detailed timeline of Crooks’ actions leading up to the assassination attempt. In the first half of 2024, he made six online purchases of precursor chemicals used to create homemade explosives. On July 11, just two days before the rally, Crooks conducted “early surveillance” of the rally site in Butler for approximately 20 minutes. The day before the rally, he visited a local gun range to practice with what the FBI believes was the same firearm used in the attack.
On the day of the shooting, Crooks purchased 50 rounds of ammunition and returned to the rally site hours before the event. He spent over an hour in the area before going home to retrieve his rifle, telling his parents he was going to the gun range.
Once at the rally site around 3:45 p.m., Crooks flew a drone for 11 minutes, approximately 200 yards away. Local law enforcement identified him as a suspicious individual just before 5 p.m., at which point an officer took a photo of him. About 30 minutes later, he was observed using a rangefinder and browsing news sites.
As the event unfolded, Crooks was seen with a backpack, moving towards the building from which he would later fire. Investigators believe he used the building’s HVAC system and piping to access the roof. The FBI confirmed that Crooks’ rifle was equipped with a collapsible stock.
Police dashcam footage from 6:08 p.m. captured Crooks on the roof as he prepared to fire at the crowd. Local police encountered him at 6:11 p.m. when an officer was lifted onto the roof. Crooks pointed his gun at the officer, who took cover. Moments later, he opened fire on the crowd before being killed.
The assassination attempt sent shockwaves across the nation, raising critical questions about security measures at public events, particularly those involving high-profile figures. The incident has led to intense scrutiny of the Secret Service, resulting in the resignation of Director Kimberly Cheatle the following week.
In addition to the FBI’s investigation, the Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog is conducting an examination of the events, and an independent review is also in progress. The House has unanimously voted to establish a bipartisan task force to investigate the attack, with various congressional committees conducting their inquiries.
Federal law enforcement officials have already briefed lawmakers on the incident, and Wray, along with Cheatle, has testified before two separate committees. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to hear from the acting Secret Service Director and FBI Deputy Director in the coming days.
Trump Rally Shooting
