Trump shooting updates: Shooter flew drone near site hours before shooting

One spectator was killed and two were hurt in the shooting on July 13.

Last Updated: July 24, 2024, 4:49 PM EDT

Federal authorities are investigating after former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

The alleged shooter was killed by snipers. One spectator was killed and two were hurt, officials said.

    Jul 24, 2024, 12:20 PM EDT

    Shooter's gun had 'collapsible stock,' which is easy to conceal

    The weapon used by the gunman had a "collapsible stock," meaning Thomas Matthew Crooks could easily conceal the gun at the rally, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.

    "The weapon had a collapsible stock, which could explain why it might have been less easy for people to observe," he said.

    Police snipers are shown on a roof while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024.
    Gene J. Puskar/AP

    Wray said that the shooter was not on the FBI's radar and there were no FBI assets at the rally.

    Wray said there were 14 guns in the home where Crooks lived.

    -ABC News’ Luke Barr

    Jul 24, 2024, 12:16 PM EDT

    Gunman searched online, 'How far away was Oswald from Kennedy'

    Starting on July 6, the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, became "very focused" on former President Donald Trump and the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee.

    "On July 6, he did a Google search for, 'How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?'" Wray said.

    The shooter went to the rally site a week before the assassination attempt and spent about 20 minutes there, Wray said.

    A campaign rally site for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is empty and littered with debris, on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.
    Evan Vucci/AP

    "Then he went to grounds again on the morning of the event, it appears, for about 17 minutes," Wray said.

    Crooks went to the site a third time "for good,” Wray said.

    -ABC News’ Luke Barr

    Jul 24, 2024, 12:09 PM EDT

    Authorities still don’t have clear picture of shooter’s motive: Wray

    Authorities still "do not yet have a clear picture" of the Trump rally shooter's motive, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

    "The shooter appears to have done a lot of searches of public figures in general, but so far we’re seeing, kind of, news articles and things like that," he said.

    "We’re doing a lot of work right now and some more to come on that," Wray added.

    Jul 24, 2024, 11:03 AM EDT

    Shooter flew drone 200 yards from site hours before shooting

    The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, flew a drone about 200 yards from the rally venue, and had it up in the air for about 11 minutes, just hours before the shooting, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

    The drone -- which was recovered in the shooter’s car -- was flown at about 3:50 p.m., he said.

    "Let me be clear about the area -- not over the stage, and that part of the area itself, but, I would say, about 200 yards, give or take, away," he said. "And that we think, but we do not know. So again, this is one of these things that's qualified because of our ongoing review."

    PHOTO: Illustration
    This graphic shows the location of the stage at the Trump rally in Butler, Pa., on July 13, 2024, and the suspected shooter's location on a rooftop near the venue.
    ABC News

    Wray confirmed two explosive devices were recovered in Crooks’ car and one was recovered in his home.

    Wray called them "relatively crude devices," but he added, "they did have the ability to be detonated remotely."

    Crooks had a transmitter with him when he was killed by law enforcement.

    FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed more details on the suspect leading up to and after the shooting, including use of a drone and explosives found in the suspect's car
    5:15

    FBI director's testimony reveals new details about Trump assassination attempt

    FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed more details on the suspect leading up to and after the shooting, including use of a drone and explosives found in the suspect's car

    Wray said that based on the positioning of the on and off switch on the devices, "if he had tried to detonate those devices from the roof, it would not have worked."

    "But that doesn't mean the explosives weren't dangerous," he added.

    -ABC News’ Luke Barr

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