The 20-year-old who opened fire on former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday reportedly visited the scene of the shooting days before the event, sources close to the case told NBC News.
The same sources revealed that Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified - and photographed - as a suspicious person 62 minutes before opening fire on Trump during a Republican rally in the state of Pennsylvania.
The gunmen who were providing security for the event, in turn, spotted him 20 minutes before the shooting.
According to CNN, Crooks visited the venue on two occasions. Firstly, when it was announced that the rally would take place there, and then on the day itself.
After the shooting, a bulletproof vest, three fully loaded magazines and two remote-controlled explosive devices were found in his car.
Another bulletproof vest was also found during searches of his home, as well as another remote-controlled explosive device and a 3D printer.
Crooks asked for time off from his workplace on Saturday and arrived at the venue three hours before the rally, the authorities said. He told his employer he had to ‘do a few things’ and promised to return on Sunday.
Donald Trump suffered minor injuries to one ear during the shooting. Two people died in the attack, the shooter and a 50-year-old man.
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