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The alleged assassin also carried in his car a bulletproof vest that he was not wearing when he opened fire on the former president, as well as several rifle magazines.

By Adam Goldman Glenn Thrush and William K. Rashbaum

Adam Goldman and Glenn Thrush reported from Washington and William K. Rashbaum from New York.

Federal investigators are looking into the possibility that a possible assassin scouted the domain where former President Donald J. Trump was scheduled to speak six days before the crusade rally in Pennsylvania where Trump was wounded.

A cellphone connected to the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, contained geolocation knowledge indicating he may have been in the domain of the site on the grounds of the Butler Farm Show on July 7, according to police. federal government officials and data provided through the F. B. I. On Saturday, criminals opened fire from the roof of a warehouse there, grazing the former president’s right ear, killing one player at the rally and seriously injuring two others.

The new main points about Mr. Crooks’ possible location on July 7 mean he may have checked the site even before authorities conducted a safety assessment. The secret service met with local authorities for an initial call on July 8 and finalized plans a few days later.

In spite of everything, the secret service took the decision to exclude from the security zone a warehouse complex located north of M’s scene. Trump, while the closest one is inside the firing range. This resolution is now under scrutiny in Congress. The F. B. I. is investigating the assassination attempt, but officials did not say whether the office intended to write a report.

The federal officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the main points of the ongoing investigation, said the F. B. I. He had learned more about Mr. Crooks’ movements after scouring the exhibition grounds.

He told his employer at the retirement home where he worked that he had to take Saturday off because he had important things.

Then, the afternoon before the shooting, Crook went to a shooting range, authorities said. The next morning, he bought a ladder at Home Depot; Although the government does not, he eventually used a ladder to climb to the roof of the warehouse. – and then bought ammunition from a nearby gun shop, Allegheny Arms and Gun Works.

After Secret Service snipers killed Mr. Crooks, the government recovered a bulletproof vest and several rifle magazines, as well as rudimentary explosive devices, from his car.

The F. B. I. He continues reading about cell phones, laptops and USB drives that belonged to Mr. Crooks, hoping to get clues about what prompted him to shoot the former president. The F. B. I. focuses intensely on creating a portrait of Mr. Crooks and what he did in the final months of his life.

Normally, the F. B. I. Es collect a lot of data on shooters within a few days in high-profile investigations, but for the most part, Mr. Crooks remains an enigma and leaves few clues online.

The F. B. I. said Mr. Crooks did not suffer from any known intellectual illness, but at the congressional briefing, officials said he had searched online for “major depressive disorder. “

Adam Goldman writes about the F. B. I. and security. He has been a journalist for more than two decades. Learn more about Adam Goldman

Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice and has also written about gun violence, civil rights, and situations across the country. Learn more about Glenn Thrush

William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter who covers municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement issues in New York City. Learn more about William K. Rashbaum

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