In a groundbreaking development, former President Donald J. Trump has voluntarily agreed to be interviewed by the FBI as part of their ongoing investigation into the motives behind the attempted assassination during one of his campaign rallies in Pennsylvania on July 13. Bureau officials announced this on Monday, emphasizing that Trump's perspective as a witness is crucial to understanding the incident.

Kevin Rojek, the head of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, clarified that the interview with Trump is standard procedure and comparable to any other victim interview. The move comes after Trump's supporters criticized FBI Director Christopher A. Wray for not definitively determining the cause of the former president's minor ear injury during the attack. By the end of the week, the FBI declared that the injury was caused by a bullet or a fragment of one.

Furthermore, the FBI provided new insights into the profile of the 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks. Investigators revealed that Crooks had concealed over two dozen online purchases of weapons and explosives using different aliases. Despite conducting interviews with hundreds of individuals, analyzing electronic devices and memory cards, and obtaining the cooperation of Crooks' parents, his motives remain unknown.

Described as a "highly intelligent" individual, Crooks seemed more interested in political violence than partisan politics. He had gathered information on previous assassination attempts, including the shooting of Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, in May. Additionally, he made various searches related to power plants, mass shooting events, and information on improvised explosive devices.

The investigation uncovered that Crooks' interest in firearms intensified around late 2023. He was given ownership of the AR-15-type rifle used in the attack by his father, who had obtained it over a decade ago. To conceal his identity during purchases, Crooks utilized encrypted email services and engaged with multiple sites, social media apps, and gaming platforms.

Interestingly, despite his online presence, Crooks appeared detached in interpersonal interactions. Investigators found no evidence of meaningful contact with fellow gamers or others, unlike many other perpetrators of similar crimes. This detail distinguishes Crooks as more of a loner.

Reiterating the known timeline of the attack, the FBI disclosed that Crooks registered to attend the Trump rally on July 6, surveyed the site's layout on the following day, and arrived around 11 a.m. on the day of the shooting. He then returned home, retrieved his gun, and informed his parents that he was heading to the shooting range. At 3:45 p.m., he arrived in Butler, Pa., where he flew a drone near the event's perimeter for 11 minutes.

During his time outside the security cordon, Crooks was witnessed carrying a backpack at 5:56 p.m. At 6:08 p.m., shortly after Trump took the stage, a police dash cam recorded him moving to the roof. Within seconds, Crooks fired eight rounds, one of which struck Trump's ear, resulting in the death of a rally attendee and injuries to two others. However, investigators were unable to determine the contents of the memory card in the drone or what Crooks had filmed.

FBI officials acknowledged their unusual decision to disclose investigative details while the investigation is ongoing, aiming to combat conspiracy theories and misinformation surrounding the incident. They also clarified that their focus remains on determining if Crooks was motivated by political animus or if he was part of a larger conspiracy.

According to Mr. Rojek, the FBI has not found any evidence suggesting Crooks had significant contacts beyond his immediate family, co-workers, or gaming platform participants. This reinforces their belief that Crooks was indeed a loner.

As the investigation continues, the FBI remains dedicated to uncovering the truth behind the assassination attempt and ensuring justice is served.