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.

[Scrambler Bob]

Who said 5 foot ladder
= = =

You kind of made my point

It was CNN, from a source, (probably ‘authorities’).

Highly trusted and vetted reporting. /s

I would like to hear it from the Home Depot store clerk with purchase record, before said ckerk was cautioned by the authorities.

And we have seen the tall 10 or so foot ladder.

Where is this 5 foot ladder?

[Tom Tetroxide]

That’s why I think the five foot ladder was incorrectly reported. It looks like a 10 or 12 foot ladder that was actually used.

If he did buy the five foot ladder, then where is it?

[Tom Tetroxide]

From Catturd on Fakebook...

"Can't see the bottom rungs but this is either a 10ft or a 12ft fiberglass step ladder. Just so you know - they're heavy to carry. They weigh around 40 pounds but carrying them is very awkward over a long distance - that noodle-armed kid wouldn't have a chance."

[Scrambler Bob]

Yes, I agree that ladder in the photo is as you just cited.

After many ladder discussions, it seems that ladder has been there for a while, for access to the roof for maintenance purposes.

The 5 footer is from a source . . . Home Depot . . . Law Enforcement investigation . . .

Some speculation is that shooter used the 5 footer to climb upon an AC, and ‘bear climb’ onto the roof, from a location not photo’d or shown yet.

And the cop that climbed a ladder confronted the shooter and fell off - which ladder ??

That is how I have summarized the ladder(s) factor so far. But that can change, as/if more ‘facts’ come out.

[wwcj]

thanks...i have heard several different things....not sure what to
believe....exactly.