In a chilling revelation, it has been discovered that Thomas Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, honed his shooting skills at the same gun range used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for training.
This occurred approximately two months before his assassination attempt, raising questions about the security measures in place.
According to The Post Millennial, Crooks, a 20-year-old, frequented the Clairton Sportsmens Club in Pennsylvania. On May 22, he visited the club around 3:10 p.m. and practiced shooting alone, as indicated by a club logbook released to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The day after Crooks' visit, the DHS conducted a "police training" exercise at the same site for three individuals.
The range at Clairton, which extends to 200 yards, is roughly the same distance as the 150 yards that Crooks trained on before his attempt on Trump's life. Although one of his shots hit the target, it was not lethal. Instead, the bullet claimed the life of an innocent bystander, Corey Comperatore, and critically injured two others.
The frequency of DHS's use of the Clairton range remains unclear, as does whether the May 23 training session was an anomaly. However, Crooks was a regular visitor, having practiced shooting there on numerous occasions since becoming a club member in August 2023.
Senator Grassley's office highlighted Crooks' dedication to his shooting practice, interpreting it as "intense preparation" for his planned assassination. "He focused almost exclusively on the rifle range throughout 2024," the senator's office noted in a statement. This information was obtained from the range's logbook following a Congressional request.
The range is located a 30-minute drive from Crooks' residence in Bethel Park and approximately an hour from the Butler fairgrounds, where Trump held his rally. The records of Crooks' visits were made available to Senator Grassley's office following a congressional request. The Clairton Sportsmens Club has yet to comment on any potential connection between Crooks and the DHS.
In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, video footage continues to surface, raising more questions than answers. One such video shows police surrounding the building Crooks was positioned on, yet Trump was not alerted to the potential threat or advised to postpone his speech. It was revealed that counter-snipers were aware of Crooks' presence at the site a full 90 minutes before he opened fire. This raises serious concerns about the security measures in place and the response of law enforcement agencies.
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