New details emerge about 20-year-old Trump shooter

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New details have emerged following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, over the weekend. Law enforcement continues to investigate Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who was killed Saturday, looking for a motive for the shooting and how it could have happened.

In an FBI update released Monday, a statement said that specialists have gained access to Crooks’ phone and “are continuing to analyze his electronic devices.” The FBI statement added that the search of Crooks’ home and vehicle has been completed. Nearly 100 interviews with law enforcement personnel, event attendees and other witnesses have been conducted.

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The FBI continues to review photos and videos taken at the scene.

The crooks went to a shooting range the day before the assassination attempt

Law enforcement officials have provided details about Crooks’ actions leading up to the assassination attempt. On July 12, he practiced shooting at a shooting range where he was a member, a law enforcement official told CNN on condition of anonymity. The morning of the rally, he bought a ladder at Home Depot and 50 rounds of ammunition at Allegheny Arms and Gun Works in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, the news station reported.

Crooks had a remote-controlled detonator with him

After shopping, Crooks drove about an hour north to the rally. There was an “improvised explosive device” in the trunk of his car, a Hyundai Sonata, an unidentified official told CNN. The device was connected to a receiver by wires, and Crooks had a remote-controlled detonator with him.

“This suggests the shooter may have planned to trigger a remote explosion, and investigators are considering the theory that he may have planned a diversion during the shooting,” according to CNN

YouTuber ‘shocked’ that Crooks is wearing his merch

At the time of the assassination attempt, Crooks was wearing a T-shirt that read “Demolition Ranch,” the name of a popular Texas-based YouTube channel devoted to firearms. The channel has more than 11 million subscribers.

Crooks was also photographed wearing the T-shirt at an ammunition store, according to CNN.

In a video posted Monday titled “Trump’s shooter wore my shirt…”, the channel’s founder, Matt Carriker, said he was sorry to the family of the man killed Saturday and prayed for a speedy and pain-free recovery for the injured victims.

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“We were shocked and confused to hear that,” he said. “The shooter who tried to assassinate Trump was wearing merchandise from my channel, a Demolition Ranch T-shirt. And it sucked to see that. It was tough.”

He said he does not vet people who buy merchandise because it would be “impossible,” but would like to “stop people like that” (referring to Crooks) from buying or being associated with the brand.

“Seeing my name next to the shooter’s name is disgusting. I wish we could stop this from happening,” he said. “This network doesn’t talk about violence. They never will. We will never condone it.”

He said he did not know Crooks and had never met him.

As of Tuesday morning, the video had been viewed nearly four million times.

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