Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Flagged as Suspicious Hour and a Half Prior

Text messages obtained by Fox News Digital reveal that law enforcement officers spotted the suspect in former President Trump's assassination attempt 90 minutes before he opened fire.

**Butler, Pa.** – Newly released text messages have shed light on the events leading up to the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, revealing that law enforcement officers had identified the suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, as suspicious nearly an hour and a half before the attack.

The text messages, obtained by Fox News Digital from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who acquired them from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit (ESU), provide a detailed timeline of the events that transpired before Crooks opened fire on the rallygoers.

Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Flagged as Suspicious Hour and a Half Prior

At approximately 4:30 p.m., around an hour and a half before Trump took the stage, a Beaver County sniper flagged Crooks after spotting him using a range finder. In a group text message with fellow officers, the sniper warned that Crooks had parked his vehicle near their own and had been observed lurking in the vicinity of the rally exit.

Follow-up messages indicated that Crooks was sitting at a picnic table near the rally exit and later moved to a position near the American Glass International (AGR) building, where he positioned himself to target Trump. Officers circulated a picture of Crooks, noting his greasy shoulder-length hair and gray t-shirt.

Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Flagged as Suspicious Hour and a Half Prior

"Kid learning around building we are in," one officer texted, along with an image of Crooks. "AGR I believe it is. I did see him with a range finder looking towards stage. FYI. If you wanna notify SS snipers to look out."

"I lost sight of him," the officer added.

Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Flagged as Suspicious Hour and a Half Prior

The texts show that officers were aware of Crooks' suspicious behavior close to 90 minutes before he opened fire. By 6:11 p.m., just over an hour after the last text message was sent, Crooks was killed by a counter-sniper after he fired on the rally attendees.

Trump sustained a minor graze wound to his ear, while three rallygoers were also shot. Corey Comperatore, 50, died after shielding his family from gunfire. David Dutch and James Copenhaver were also injured but have since been released from the hospital.

Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Flagged as Suspicious Hour and a Half Prior

The newly surfaced text messages raise questions about why law enforcement did not approach or detain Crooks after he was flagged as suspicious. The Secret Service has not yet responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The investigation into the assassination attempt is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the inquiry progresses. The text messages provide a crucial timeline of the events that unfolded, highlighting the need for improved security measures at future political gatherings.

Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Flagged as Suspicious Hour and a Half Prior