Donald Trump was a “target of opportunity” in the assassination attempt against him, the FBI said on Wednesday, releasing also a photo of the gun used in the attack.
Officials said Thomas Crooks, who was killed at the scene by US Secret Service snipers, had no clear motive and had also searched online for the Republican and Democratic conventions.
Crooks, 20, lived near the showground in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where he opened fire on Trump from a nearby rooftop on July 13.
Kevin Rojek, the FBI special agent in charge of the bureau’s Pittsburgh field office, said Crooks “looked at any number of events and targets” before “hyper-focusing” on the rally Trump, escaped with an injured ear in the attack last month, was due to attend in his hometown.
Mr Rojek said Trump appeared to have been a “target of opportunity” and that no motive or foreign involvement had been identified.
“I want to be clear: we have not seen any indication to suggest Crooks was directed by a foreign entity to conduct the attack,” said Bobby Wells, the FBI assistant director.