Did Trump Shooter Hint At Assassination Plot? Read 20-Year-Old Message On Gaming Platform

Thomas Matthew Crooks reportedly posted a chilling message before attempting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump. Teasing the attack, the 20-year-old wrote on the gaming platform Steam, "July 13 will be my premiere, watch as it unfolds."

Secret Service and FBI officials confirmed to US senators during a briefing on Wednesday, July 17, that Crooks left this threatening message on Steam days before carrying out the shooting that injured Trump and others, and killed firefighter Corey Comperatore at the Pennsylvania rally. Steam, a popular platform, allows millions of gamers to purchase games and communicate. Crooks' alarming message was discovered as investigators reviewed his cell phones and laptop.

Upon reviewing the laptop, investigators found that Crooks' July searches included Trump, Biden, the DNC convention, and the July 13 Trump rally. Senators were informed by top security officials that Crooks had two cell phones, one of which was recovered at the shooter site along with a remote transmitter. The second cell phone was found at his home, containing only 27 contacts. These individuals will be tracked down and interviewed by the FBI, according to Fox News.

Hours before the assassination attempt, Crooks' parents contacted local police, expressing concerns about their son's well-being and reporting him missing. It is unclear if they knew he was carrying his father's AR-15 rifle.

Crooks was killed by Secret Service snipers, but only after one person had died and several were injured, including former president Trump. The agency has faced intense criticism, and Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is facing growing calls to resign. At the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, she was pursued by GOP senators demanding answers. Cheatle was seen in a video ignoring them and walking away.