Thomas Matthew Crooks foreshadowed Saturday’s shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania by allegedly wrote a threatening message online.
Crooks, 20, wrote a threatening message on “Steam,” a gaming platform, days before the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, Fox News reported.
Secret Service and FBI officials relayed the news to U.S. senators during a briefing Wednesday.
Crooks allegedly wrote, “July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds,” officials said.
“Steam” is a popular platform for gamers to purchase games and communicate.
Investigators discovered the message as they looked into Crooks’ technological devices, including his cell phones and laptop, per the outlet.
Upon investigating Crooks’ laptop, several searches were found, including Trump, Biden, when is the DNC convention, and the July 13 Trump rally, security officials told the senators.
At this point in the investigation, authorities have not been able to identify any ideology or political views Crooks prescribed to.
Crooks had two cell phones. One was recovered at the scene and the other was found at Crooks’ home.
The FBI is tracking down the 27 contacts stored in that phone to green more information.
It was also discovered
Crooks’ parents contacted law enforcement hours before the attempted assassination on Saturday.
Crooks’ parents told police Crooks was missing and they were concerned about his welfare, according to a source who told Fox News.
It still is not clear if they knew that he had an AR-15 rifle that belonged to his father.
