This article has been updated: Now, federal authorities believe that the Steam account linked to the assailant who fired shots at former President Donald Trump is likely fake, according to a US official briefed on the investigation.
Here’s the original report: Thomas Matthew Crooks, the assailant who targeted Donald Trump in a deadly shooting, left a haunting message on social media predicting his violent act, newly disclosed information reveals.
Crooks posted on the gamer platform Steam, stating, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds.”
This chilling revelation emerged during a briefing for Senate and House lawmakers, where FBI and Secret Service officials provided details about the 20-year-old gunman’s plans leading up to the assassination attempt.
On July 13, Crooks arrived armed with an AR-15 rifle near Trump’s rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania. Despite being outside the security perimeter, he managed to position himself just 150 yards from where the former president was speaking. He then opened fire, hitting Trump and prompting swift intervention from Secret Service agents who shielded him.
In addition to Trump, three rally attendees were shot, one fatally. The investigation into Crooks’ background has uncovered searches on his cellphones related to prominent political figures, including Trump, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rudy Giuliani, and others.
Despite these findings, investigators are grappling with understanding Crooks’ motive, as he had no prior criminal record and his political beliefs remain ambiguous. Records indicate he was registered as a Republican voter but had also contributed to a Democratic-aligned political action committee when he was 17.
Lawmakers are now focusing on Crooks’ mental health, revealing searches on his phone related to “major depressive disorder.” Calls for accountability have intensified, particularly directed at Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, amidst criticism of lapses in security measures leading up to the attack.
In response to mounting pressure, Cheatle has been summoned to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Meanwhile, Trump, who narrowly escaped the assassination attempt, is set to address the incident and his vision for national unity at the upcoming RNC event.
The aftermath of the shooting has ignited a flurry of political and security concerns, prompting a nationwide debate on presidential security protocols and the detection of potential threats at public events.
