Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS

Trump Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks Researched JFK Assassination One Week Before Deadly Shooting: ‘How Far Away Was Oswald From Kennedy?’

Trump Gunman Thomas Crooks Researched JFK's Assassination One Week Before Deadly Shooting: ‘How Far Away Was Oswald From Kennedy?’
Source: MEGA; RadarOnline.com

Theories about the CIA's involvement in JFK's assassination have also circulated for decades.

July 24 2024, Published 3:40 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Thomas Matthew Crooks showed a strange fascination with President John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald in the days leading up to his attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

FBI Director Christopher Wray, 57, detailed the extent of Crooks’ interest in the 35th president and his assassin during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, RadarOnline.com can reveal.

Article continues below advertisement
donald trump gunman thomas crooks jfk assassination deadly shooting
Source: MEGA

Crooks searched on Google on July 6: “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”

According to Wray, the 20-year-old Bethel Park, Pennsylvania native researched Kennedy’s assassination on July 6 of this year, asking Google: “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”

The FBI director noted: “That’s a search that obviously is significant in terms of his state of mind.”

Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, came almost 61 years before Crooks climbed atop a factory rooftop, positioned his father’s AR-15-style rifle, and fired a hail of eight bullets at former President Trump, 78, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

Trump’s right ear was grazed by one bullet, while another bullet struck and killed 50-year-old rally attendee Corey Comperatore.

Article continues below advertisement
donald trump gunman thomas crooks jfk assassination deadly shooting
Source: MEGA

Crooks fired a hail of eight bullets at Trump on July 13. One bullet struck the former president's right ear.

But math geek Crooks’ interest in Kennedy’s assassination was not the only revelation shared by Wray during his appearance before the House Judiciary Committee this week.

The FBI director confirmed previous reports Crooks had visited the Butler Farm Show grounds on July 7 – less than one week before the assassination attempt.

Article continues below advertisement

According to Wray, Crooks – whose photo was first obtained and shared with the world by RadarOnline.com earlier this month – returned to the site of the rally on July 13 with a drone to scope out the venue.

Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday: “It appears that around 3:50 PM, 4:00, in that window, on the day of the shooting, that the shooter was flying the drone around the area.

Article continues below advertisement
donald trump gunman thomas crooks jfk assassination deadly shooting
Source: RadarOnline.com

RadarOnline.com was the first to obtain and share these two photos of Crooks in the aftermath of the shooting.

MORE ON:
Donald Trump

“Not over the stage, but about 200 yards, give or take, away from that.”

Crooks would ultimately perch himself just 164 yards away from Trump’s position before firing off the volley of bullets that left thousands of rally attendees reeling and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle forced to resign from her role.

Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free.

Article continues below advertisement

As for the 20-year-old would-be assassin’s motive, Wray admitted it was still not clear – even despite gaining access to Crooks’ phone and internet search history.

Wray said: “We’re hoping to learn more. It’s fair to say we do not yet have a clear picture of his motive.”

Article continues below advertisement
donald trump gunman thomas crooks jfk assassination deadly shooting
Source: MEGA

FBI Director Christopher Wray appeared before the House Judicial Committee on Wednesday to discuss Crooks and the botched assassination attempt.

He also condemned the attack on Trump’s life and acknowledged the ongoing interest in the matter, saying: “The attempted assassination of the former president was an attack on our democracy."

“I recognize the congressional and public interest in this case.”

Article continues below advertisement

Assassination Attempt: Donald Trump, With Blood on Face, Whisked off Stage at Penn. Rally as Gunshots Heard

‘SHOOTER IS DOWN:’ Person Who Shot at President Trump has Been 'Neutralized'; 'No Longer an Immediate Threat'

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Donald Trump Stands and Raises His Fist in Defiance After Multiple Shots Fired at Him in Assassination Attempt at Penn. Rally

'Let Me Get My Shoes': Microphone Captures Donald Trump's Comments Immediately After Assassination Attempt at Rally

Video Shows Dead Body of Trump Would-Be Assassin on Roof Just Outside Rally in Pennsylvania

How Was Would-Be Assassin Missed? Man Tells How He Frantically Tried to Warn Police of Rifle-Carrying Sniper on Roof Before Trump Assassination Attempt

'We Cannot Be Like This’: President Joe Biden Calls for the Nation to 'Unite' After Donald Trump Assassination Attempt

'We Screamed for 3 Minutes at Police and Secret Service': Eyewitness Describes Would-Be Trump Assassin Crawl Across the Roof, Claims Law Enforcement Missed Chance to Stop Shooting

TRUMP SPEAKS FROM HOSPITAL: Ex-Prez Claims He Was Shot in the 'Upper Part' of His Right Ear in Assassination Attempt

Blood-Stained Hero Tells of Assassination Aftermath After Madman Unloaded Rifle at Trump Rally

First Photo of 20-Year-Old Local Pennsylvania Man Who Tried to Assassinate Ex-President Trump; Thomas Matthew Crooks ID’d as Gunman

FIRST PHOTOS: Feds Raid Pennsylvania Home of Trump Would-Be Assassin — What We Know So Far About Sniper Thomas Matthew Crooks

New Video: Sniper on Rooftop Squeezes Off Up to 9 Shots at Trump — Before He's Eliminated With a Single Shot to Head

Explosive Devices Found in Car of Gunman Who Attempted to Assassinate Former President Donald Trump

Outrage: Why Was Building Unguarded Just 130 Yards From Trump — as New Eyewitness Reveals He Told Cops TWICE Sniper Was Moving From Roof to Roof

'Contrary to Everything We Stand for': President Joe Biden Condemns Attack on Trump and Calls for 'Unity'

DONALD TRUMP’S FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE SHOOTING: ‘I Shouldn’t Be Here, I Should Be Dead!’

SHOOTER PROBE: FBI Hauls Away Van Belonging to Trump Gunman Thomas Crooks for Forensic Testing

REVEALED: Secret Service Team for Trump was ‘Mostly Temporary Replacements’

SECURITY SHAKE-UP: How Joe Biden and Trump’s Campaigns are Throwing Rings of Steel Round the Rivals

BLAME GAME: Republicans Say ‘Sleepy Joe’ Call To Put Trump in ‘Bullseye’ Sparked Assassination Attempt!

TARGET ON HIS BACK: Trump Math Geek Shooter’s Classmate Reveals Gun Nut Was Bullied ‘So Much’ Every Day at School

Secret Service Bosses Repeatedly Denied Trump Additional Security for 2 Years Before Assassination Attempt

Trump Assassination Attempt ‘Most Significant’ Security Failure In Decades, Secret Service Boss Confesses

‘How Did They Not See Him?’ Congressman and Ex-Navy Seal Sniper Eli Crane Scopes Out Rally Shooting Rooftop — and Ends Up Astonished Security Didn’t Spot Gunman

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle RESIGNS as Trump Assassination Attempt Fallout Rages On: ‘We Fell Short of Our Mission’

Trump Shooter’s Devastated Dad Pleads For Privacy As He’s Hounded By Video Crew While Doing Grocery Shopping: ‘Please Just Give Us Our Space’

Graphic Video Shows Thomas Crooks Dead Moments After Trump Assassination Attempt: Damning New Evidence Proves Secret Service was Warned

Advertisement

DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.

More From Radar Online

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.