Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old would-be assassin who opened fire on former President Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania campaign rally Saturday, hid the weapon in advance, according to a Secret Service source.
It was not immediately clear where he hid it, however.
By the time agents spotted him on the roof, he was already holding it.
“We went from golf range finder to AR-15, and now we have to fill in the gap,” the source told Fox News.
When authorities first observed Crooks carrying a golf range finder Saturday, he was perceived as a “person of interest” but not a “threat,” authorities said Thursday.
Range finders were not banned from rally events at the time, but authorities are expected to review the list of items that are not allowed.
He did not become an official threat until he was seen with a weapon.
There were four counter-sniper teams stationed around the rally, according to the Secret Service – two from the agency and two provided by local law enforcement.
Of the four teams, two opened fire, one local and one from the Service.
A federal sharpshooter fatally struck the gunman seconds after the gunfire erupted.
Crooks struck at least four people with AR-15 fire from the rooftop, killing a 50-year-old father of two named Corey Comperatore and seriously wounding David Dutch, 57, and James Copenhaver, 74.
Authorities have spent much of the week pointing fingers about who was responsible for securing the AGR building, from where Crooks opened fire.
Trump later said he had been shot in the right ear, and photos from the scene showed him getting back to his feet after ducking for cover with blood on the right side of his head.
He appeared publicly at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, later in the week, wearing a bandage on his ear.
Everything we know about Trump assassination attempt
- 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
- Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents in the aftermath of the shooting.
- The gunman grazed Trump’s ear, killed a 50-year-old retired fire chief, and injured two other rally-goers.
- Investigators detailed Crooks’ search history to lawmakers, revealing that he looked for the dates of Trump’s appearances and the Democratic National Convention.
- Crooks’ search history also revealed a broad interest in high-profile people and celebrities, regardless of their political affiliation, FBI officials reportedly said.
- Trump exclusively recounted surviving the ‘surreal’ assassination attempt with The Post at the rally, remarking, “I’m supposed to be dead.”
- High-profile politicians, including President Biden and Vice President Harris addressed the nation about the shooting, calling it “a heinous, horrible and cowardly act”
Wake services for Comperatore were scheduled for Thursday.
He will be laid to rest Friday in a private ceremony.
Hospital authorities said the other victims had been upgraded from critical condition to serious but stable.
This is a breaking news story.