Trump shooting: FBI uncovers JFK assassination query before rally attack

FBI Director Christopher Wray disclosed during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday that the gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13 had searched for information about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy just one week before the attack.

The suspect, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, conducted a Google search on July 6 specifically querying, “how far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” This disturbing discovery on a laptop linked to Crooks suggests he may have been drawing inspiration from the infamous 1963 assassination carried out by Lee Harvey Oswald.

Oswald shot Kennedy from a sixth-floor window of the Texas Schoolbook Depository in Dallas, approximately 265.3 feet away from the President.

Despite gaining access to Crooks’ electronic devices, including his cellphone, investigators have yet to uncover significant information regarding his motive or ideology.

The FBI continues to work diligently to determine the rationale behind Crooks’ actions, which resulted in the death of one attendee and injuries to Trump and two others, according to CBS News.

During the hearing, Wray emphasized the complexity of the case, highlighting the ongoing nature of the investigation as authorities explore all possible leads. The eerie search term found on Crooks’ laptop stands out as a critical finding, potentially offering a glimpse into his mindset leading up to the attack.

On the day of the rally, Crooks fired shots from a rooftop approximately 400 feet away from the target, wielding an AR-style rifle. The gunfire struck Trump in the ear and injured several rally attendees. FBI agents recovered eight spent bullet cartridges from the rooftop, further evidence of the premeditated nature of the attack.

As the investigation continues, this disturbing query raises more questions about the influences and intentions behind Crooks’ actions.

Wray’s testimony underscores the ongoing efforts to piece together the events that led to this violent act and to understand what drove Crooks to attempt such a brazen attack on a former president.