Chilling new photographs of Trump shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks have raised more questions about the failed assassination attempt.
One of the images captures Crooks, 20, standing on a wall in a grassy area on July 13 at the Butler, Pennsylvania, protest just moments before he opened fire.
In the image, Crooks can be seen holding his mobile phone, as if he were talking on the phone to someone. Investigators have not yet determined what Crooks’ motive was or whether he was actually acting alone.
The other image captures the moment Crooks turns to look over his shoulder while sitting in the same position. It was not clear what prompted him to turn around or whether he was talking to someone behind him.
Two photographs of Crooks were published. Judicial surveillance along with documents detailing local law enforcement support prior to the rally.
The first photo captured Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who appeared to be perched on a wall in a grassy area on July 13 at the Butler, Pennsylvania, protest.
The other image captured the moment Crooks turned over his shoulder while sitting in the same position, though it’s unclear what triggered the turn or whether he was perhaps talking to someone behind him.
The photographs have raised questions and sparked theories about the attempted murder.
Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper after opening fire at the rally and piercing former President Donald Trump’s ear. One rally attendee was killed in the shooting and two others were injured.
There has previously been speculation that Crooks may have communicated with another person before carrying out the murder attempt.
FBI reports indicated that Crooks, a registered Republican who had made donations to the Democratic Party, acted alone. The investigation is ongoing.
One conspiracy theory that circulated immediately after the shooting was that there was a female “accomplice” to the shooter in the crowd.
Although this theory has been debunked, there is intriguing video footage that accompanies the rumor.
In the video, an unnamed woman appears to be yelling at the gunman just before he launches his attack.
Theorists claim that he shouts: “Thieves, what are you doing? Get here! Get down!”
The clip quickly went viral on social media, with some claiming it is clear evidence of an accomplice.
But other viewers have debunked the theory, explaining that the woman is actually shouting “Ross” and not “Crooks”.
There has been previous speculation that Crooks did not act alone when he carried out the shooting in Butler… which led to his own death after he was shot by a Secret Service sniper.
Another alternative theory posited that the “deep state” was involved in the assassination attempt. The so-called “deep state” is often accused of secretly manipulating the world for its own benefit.
In this case, the conspirators were quick to claim that the group was behind the shooting, alleging that the attack was a failed attempt to eliminate Trump.
The theory was widely shared, including by well-known conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who took to X to say “we are in the middle of a Deep State coup.”
Jones also said they would “try again.”
Others openly pointed the finger at President Biden, with Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) sensationally posting from his personal X account that “Joe Biden sent the orders.”
There is no evidence that Biden — or any group — was involved in the attack on Trump.
Among other evidence raising questions was a remote detonator found on the body of would-be killer Thomas Crooks along with his cellphone after he was fatally shot.
The remote detonator is seen next to Thomas Crooks’ mobile phone
The 20-year-old suspected killer was repeatedly spotted and photographed by police officers before he scaled his building and opened fire.
An image first published by Pittsburgh’s WPXI He showed the detonator, a rectangular gray device with a keypad similar to a television remote control, next to the gunman’s cell phone.
FBI investigators previously reported that they recovered explosive materials, ammunition and a bulletproof vest inside the troubled 20-year-old’s car. CNN reports that the bombs were connected to the detonator.
The shooter was behaving strangely near metal detectors at least an hour before the attempted murder and was later seen using a rangefinder.
Shots rang out at the rally at 6:11 p.m. Trump took the stage at 6:03 p.m., an hour later than announced.
Authorities have not commented on what they believe Crooks might have planned to do after the shooting, as the Secret Service faces increasing scrutiny for its failure to protect the event.
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