Gunman In Trump Rally Attack Flew Drone Over Rally Site In Advance Of Event, Official Says | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The gunman within the tried assassination of former President Donald Trump is believed to have flown a drone across the Pennsylvania rally website forward of time in an obvious try to scope out the positioning earlier than the occasion, a legislation enforcement official mentioned Saturday.

The drone has been recovered by the FBI, which is main the investigation into final Saturday’s capturing on the rally by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.

Crooks fired a number of rounds from the roof of a constructing adjoining to the Butler Farm Show grounds, the place Trump was talking, earlier than being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper. The existence of the machine and its use sooner or later earlier than the capturing may assist clarify why Crooks knew to fireplace from the purpose.

The official who described the drone was not approved to debate the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the situation of anonymity. Details of the drone have been first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Trump mentioned this week that one bullet clipped his proper ear. A memo launched Saturday by the Trump marketing campaign and authored by Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, who served because the GOP nominee’s White House doctor, mentioned that Trump sustained a gunshot wound to the fitting ear from a high-powered rifle that got here “less than a quarter of an inch from entering his head, and struck the top of his right ear.”

One of the bullets aimed towards Trump killed 50-year-old firefighter Corey Comperatore, a spectator who was within the bleachers. Two others have been critically wounded.

The FBI is constant to analyze what might have motivated Crooks to hold out the assault. So far, officers haven’t discovered any ideological bent that would assist clarify his actions.

Investigators who searched his telephone discovered photographs of Trump, President Joe Biden and different senior authorities officers, and in addition discovered that he had appeared up the dates for the Democratic National Conventional in addition to Trump’s appearances. He additionally looked for details about main depressive order.

More particulars in regards to the investigation are anticipated to be made public within the coming week when FBI Director Chris Wray seems earlier than the House Judiciary Committee.

Associated Press author Jill Colvin contributed to this report.