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“We have identified an account that appears to be linked to the suspect; it was rarely utilized and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident or discuss his political views,” a Discord spokesperson told Kotaku. Crooks’ account was deleted shortly after he was identified as the gunman who nearly killed former President Trump and did succeed in killing an innocent bystander.
Discord faced criticism in 2022 after a gunman used the platform to plan a mass shooting in a Buffalo grocery store, where 10 people were murdered. This incident prompted backlash from New York law enforcement officials, who accused Discord of insufficiently monitoring threats.
Additional details have surfaced regarding the timeline of Crooks’ actions leading up to the assassination attempt. On Friday, Crooks visited a local shooting range where he held a membership and practiced firing his weapon, a law enforcement official told CNN. The next morning, he went to a local Home Depot, purchasing a five-foot ladder used to access the roof from which he opened fire. Investigators said he also bought 50 rounds of ammunition from a gun store on Saturday.
After gathering these materials, Crooks drove his Hyundai Sonata approximately an hour north from his home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, to Butler Township, where Trump was scheduled to hold a rally. Investigators revealed that Crooks’ car was rigged with an improvised explosive device hidden in the trunk, wired to a transmitter he was carrying. From there, Crooks reportedly used the ladder to scale a building about 130 yards from the former president’s podium.
Despite the high-level security threat designation of the location and the presence of law enforcement personnel inside the building, Crooks managed to climb to the roof. Law enforcement noted his suspicious behavior as he surveyed the area and later when he returned with a backpack and began looking at his phone. A Secret Service counter sniper took notice and snapped a photo of him.
Officials speculate that Crooks planned to detonate his car bomb to create a diversion, allowing him the opportunity to carry out his attack. However, the origins of the explosive devices found in Crooks’ car remain unclear. Investigators have found no evidence that he researched how to construct explosives or wire them to a transmitter, with minimal clues pointing to his planning or motive.
Brutal “Pocket Weapon” Stops Hearts (discounted for next 78)
The rifle used in the attack, described as an “AR-style rifle,” was purchased by Crooks’ father, Matthew Crooks. During a search of the family’s home on Saturday, authorities found over 20 weapons registered to the elder Crooks.
As investigators continue to piece together Crooks’ motivations and actions, the lack of a clear social media footprint or planning evidence raises more questions than answers about this tragic incident and the factors that led to it.
