Trump’s attempted assassin likely didn’t use ladder to scale his way to the roof: report

Two FBI investigators scan the roof of AGR International Inc, the building adjacent to the Butler Fairgrounds, from which alleged shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks fired at former President Donald J. Trump, in the aftermath of the attempted assassination at a campaign rally on July 14, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was escorted away by the Secret Service with an injury to his ear. One attendee at the rally on July 13 was killed and two others severely injured. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who reportedly purchased a ladder not long before his assassination attempt on former President Trump last Saturday in Pennsylvania, likely didn’t use that ladder to climb onto a nearby roof before firing at Trump.

Although there was a receipt found on Crooks of him purchasing a 5-foot ladder at a Home Depot, he reportedly climbed an air conditioning unit at an adjacent building to access the roof where he popped away at Trump — and not climbing to the roof by ladder, according to a report from ABC News.

Trump was shot in the ear Saturday during his rally preceding this week’s Republican National Convention. Secret Service agents quickly killed Crooks in retaliation fire.

Crooks accessed the roof of a nearby building and fired from about 150 yards away from Trump. The shot that hit Trump nicked him in the ear, but was just a few inches away from hitting Trump in the front or side of his head.

Officials have been trying to determine if Crooks used the ladder to access the roof of the building from which shot at Trump. The ABC story isn’t an official report, as law enforcement officials are still investigating.