This information comes from newly released records that reveal Crooks' frequent visits to the Clairton Sportsmen’s Club, where he dedicated approximately 80% of his time to rifle practice.
According to The New York Post, these records were obtained and released by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. The Senator's office stated, “He focused almost exclusively on the rifle range throughout 2024,” indicating that Crooks' frequent visits to the gun club were part of an "intense preparation" for his planned attack on Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.
The records, initially obtained by ABC News, show that Crooks made 43 visits to the gun club after becoming a member in August of the previous year. He signed in for practice 20 times within the first four months of his membership and averaged between three to six practices a month in the following year. Notably, Crooks never brought a guest with him for target practice, and his visits included holidays such as Christmas Day, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day.
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The records also reveal that his last visit to the gun club was logged at 2:45 p.m. on Friday, July 12, just a day before he attempted to assassinate the former president. Armed with an AR-15 rifle, Crooks fired from a nearby roof, managing to graze Trump's ear and tragically killing a bystander before being shot dead by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
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The gun club released these attendance records in response to a congressional request, as stated by Senator Grassley's office. The release of these records coincided with the release of new bodycam footage showing the moment a local Butler Township police officer encountered Crooks on the roof.
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The footage reveals the officer being lifted onto the roof by a colleague, where he found himself face-to-face with Crooks. The officer can be seen retreating and running around the building, presumably to alert other officers and nearby spectators. He described Crooks as having "glasses, long hair," and carrying an AR-15 rifle in a backpack. Moments later, Crooks began firing.
