Staff Reports
The unfolding saga of the botched assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump just keeps getting stranger, perhaps rivaled only by one of those low-budget thriller films. The FBI has recently released a series of photographs from the scene, showcasing the equipment and weaponry of the would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks. This incident truly serves as a reminder of the current climate where an attack on a former president isn’t merely a crime; it becomes fodder for endless scrutiny by an anxious public trying to make sense of it all.
Crooks, the so-called marksman, positioned himself atop a rooftop during a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, employing a DPMS Panther Arms A-15 rifle. While one would expect a bit more sophistication from an attempted hit on a former commander-in-chief, one glance at these images illustrates that Crooks may have skipped weapon-handling classes altogether. The rifle’s stock bears the unmistakable signs of having been shot—and not by Crooks, mind you. Not only did law enforcement outsmart him, but in the process, Crooks’ own gear also turned against him in a scene reminiscent of the cinematic classic “Home Alone,” albeit with much graver implications.
BREAKING NEW PHOTOS FBI
has released photos of Thomas Crooks’ gun he used to shoot Fmr. President Donald Trump at the Butler rally.
And Crooks’ backpack & explosives he had in his car.https://t.co/qSSRqotHYq@KDKA pic.twitter.com/V7GzUZVxpB— Jennifer Borrasso (@JenBorrasso) August 28, 2024
Interestingly, the story gets even better as Rep. Clay Higgins from Louisiana, a true patriot and dedicated Republican, was the first to shed light on the aftermath of the shooting. According to him, it was a member of the Butler County SWAT team who heroically dismantled Crooks’ plan with a shot that not only hit the rifle but resulted in fragments hitting Crooks himself. If that doesn’t scream “total bada**,” nothing does. In a world increasingly devoid of genuine heroism, moments like these remind the American people why they admire the brave men and women who keep them safe and secure, even when faced with deranged individuals.
The FBI’s photographic releases have certainly kicked the investigative pot into high gear. Alongside the pictures of Crooks’ damaged rifle and gear, snapshots of undetonated explosive devices were included. While the bureau shows skepticism about their operability—because of course, why would a poorly constructed explosive work properly?—it still raises eyebrows about how prepared Crooks really was. One has to wonder if he truly believed he could wage a one-man attack on a former president without some serious repercussions. This isn’t exactly a Bourne movie, and the real world has rules that Crooks evidently ignored.
The rifle used in the attempted assassination of President Trump pic.twitter.com/siD6UxEjms
— FUNKER530 (@FunkerActual) August 28, 2024
As the investigation continues, with both a House task force and an independent panel on the case, numerous questions remain unanswered. Skeptics, however, may begin to wonder about the integrity of the entire operation and the motivations behind it. With so much focus on the man behind the weapon, it appears that larger political implications might be at play, but good luck trying to get the mainstream media to address that angle. Perhaps they’re too busy obsessing over less pressing matters in their efforts to sway public opinion away from fundamental issues.
Should Americans feel reassured that justice will be served regarding this harrowing event? It’s a tall order in a time when trust in investigations seems at an all-time low. While the FBI continues its probe, many are left mulling over not just whether this was a lone wolf scenario but also what it says about the broader cultural climate that emboldens attempts like Crooks’. The growing risk to conservative voices, especially high-profile ones, does not go unnoticed.
