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Investigators have information suggesting that a man who was attempting to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump flew the plane over the campaign event on the day of the shooting.
By Glenn Thrush, Adam Goldman and Mark Walker
Report from Washington
Investigators discovered a small drone in the car belonging to the gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump, and was used to monitor Trump’s rally site in Butler, Washington, Pennsylvania, at least once before the shooting. according to the authorities.
Thomas Crooks, 20, traveled to the ground near the fairgrounds used for the July 7 rally — six days before the event — and gave the impression of having held another one on the morning of the shooting, according to geolocation data discovered on one of his two mobile phones. The officials said.
At one point last Saturday, Crooks appears to have flown the drone to collect footage for a ground progression of the Butler Farm Show on a pre-programmed flight path, according to an official briefed on the stage who spoke on condition of anonymity because the user was not authorized. . an ongoing investigation.
The discovery of the drone came late, when investigators discovered two crude explosive devices in his Hyundai Sonata shortly after Crooks, a graduate of a highly savvy and technologically complicated networking school, shot dead a sniper after bloodying Trump’s ear. killing a man in the crowd and seriously injuring two others.
Investigators also discovered several magazines for the rifle he was carrying, as well as a bulletproof vest in the vehicle.
In recent days, the F. B. I. technicians analyzed the drone in their lab, along with two of Crooks’ phones and other electronic devices in hopes of discovering their motive.
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