A shooting range, a gun store, and a ladder purchase: Tracking the Trump rally gunman’s movements leading up to his attack

CNN ^ | July 15, 2024 | John Miller

[edwinland]

In the 48 hours before he opened fire on former President Donald Trump, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks made a series of stops in and around his suburban Pittsburgh hometown.

On Friday, he went to a shooting range where he was a member, and practiced firing, a law enforcement official told CNN. The next morning, Crooks went to a Home Depot, where he bought a five-foot ladder, and a gun store, where he purchased 50 rounds of ammunition, the official said.

Then, Crooks drove his Hyundai Sonata about an hour north, joining thousands of people from around the region who flocked to Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He parked the car outside the rally, with an improvised explosive device hidden in the trunk that was wired to a transmitter he carried, the official said. Then, investigators believe, he used his newly-bought ladder to scale a nearby building, and opened fire on the former president.

As investigators continue to search for a motive behind the attempted assassination, they are scrutinizing Crooks’ movements before the attack and trying to piece together a timeline of his actions leading up to it.

Yet nearly 48 hours after the shooting, investigators are struck by the lack of leads they’re finding about Crooks’ mindset and possible motives. Even after successfully breaking into his phone and searching his computer, scouring his search history and bedroom, and interviewing his family and friends, agents still haven’t found evidence that would suggest political or ideological impetus for the shooting, law enforcement sources told CNN.

[PIF]

Not buying all these conspiracy theories until better evidence is presented. Without that, any one conspiracy theory is as good as the next.

[texanyankee]

I see your point about possible access point by Crooks using an AC unit.

I await the ‘official’ explanation for that ladder. If we ever hear one.

At this point I won’t be holding my breath. Probably just another Warren Commission redux of the whole day. The ladder will just be a foot note.

[Blue Highway]

I like the unintended pun of a ladder and FOOT note 🤣🤣🤣

[aklurker]

I with you, can’t trust any of the three letter agencies, there are some people in them that are pissed that the shooter missed. And they are all in CYA mode because if this was incompetence it is incompetence at a level never seen before.

[ansel12]

He bought a 5 foot ladder and there is a 12 foot ladder leaning against the building in a photo.

That is all, yet in your mind you are writing a story from those two unconnected facts and are obsessed with some story in your head.

The two ladders don’t have anything to do with each other.

[Tired of Taxes]

Perhaps the ladder in the photograph was one used by police AFTER the assassination attempt?

Oh, I hadn't considered that! It makes perfect sense. It would explain everything.

[af_vet_1981]

Not buying all these conspiracy theories until better evidence is presented. Without that, any one conspiracy theory is as good as the next.

Yes

[small farm girl]

Same people who don’t know where the white substance came from at the WH, same people who said Ashley diary fake, hunter laptop disinformation, and and and

[af_vet_1981]

and as if on cue…

Ynet breaking news (Israel)

14:35
US received intel of Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, CNN reports The United States received intelligence from a human source in recent weeks about an Iranian plot to try to assassinate former President Donald Trump, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing people briefed on the matter. CNN reported that there was no indication that the 20-year-old who tried to assassinate Trump on Saturday was connected to the plot.
(Reuters)

[GailA]

btt

[Scrambler Bob]

The news have said they are fully cooperating with the investigation.
= = =

“We voted for Biden”

OK, they fully cooperated.

[Scrambler Bob]

“five-foot ladder”??? A 5 foot ladder way too small… The pictures of the scene it looked more like 8’ ladder
= = =

That’s why he had a range finder.

To see if the 5’ ladder would fit a 10’ roof.

Maybe the range finder had AI, and thus made the 5’ ladder fit the 10’ space.

[Scrambler Bob]

Extension Ladder? I disagree. In looking at the photos of the ladder the top of it is considerably narrower than the bottom which indicates a step ladder
= = =

I worked in the ag industry with trees and ladders.

You are correct. This is not an extending ladder.

[Scrambler Bob]

Figure one foot per rung. Closer to a 10 foot./

[Scrambler Bob]

“We don’t know anything about the ladders yet, he bought a 5 foot ladder...”
= = =

Just who said 5-foot ladder.

Were they using ‘new math’, or ‘metric’ i.,e. a 5-meter ladder.

Or they meant a 5 finger ladder, takes 5 fingers to erect it, but they said foot instead.

Is DEI to blame?

[Scrambler Bob]

Why are we arguing over what size the ladder was?

= = =

Probably because we are men.

[Scrambler Bob]

They got some hot chicks in Mensa so I may think about it.
= = =

But they are smart. How then might you ‘oursmart’ them?

[Scrambler Bob]

Drink some coffee or something and start reading the posts you are responding to.
== == ==

Or drink some beer and just respond . . .

[joethedrummer]

LOL!!!

That is a PERFECT answer!!!!

LOL!!!

[Tom Tetroxide]

“Just who said 5-foot ladder.”

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/rnc-republican-national-convention-07-15-24#h_84d9a054f19bcebf4e4fc89425c11ee7

“On Saturday morning, the shooter went to Home Depot and bought a five-foot ladder before going to the gun store and purchasing the 50 rounds of ammunition, the source said.”