In a shocking revelation, it has been reported that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who recently attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, was able to fly a camera-equipped drone over the fairgrounds near Butler, Pennsylvania just before the former president was scheduled to speak there. This disclosure about security lapses comes as more details emerge about Crooks' preparations leading up to the attack.

According to law enforcement officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, Crooks flew the drone on a predetermined flight path over the event site earlier in the day of the shootings, which took place on July 13th. Later that day, the 20-year-old assailant opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle from the roof of the American Glass Research building, located approximately 150 yards away from where Trump was speaking. The former president was grazed by a bullet, while former fire chief Corey Comperatore was fatally shot, and two rally-goers sustained critical injuries.

Investigators revealed that Crooks had been identified as a suspicious individual over an hour before the shooting when police officers noticed him loitering outside the rally with a range finder and a backpack. However, they lost track of him before the tragic incident occurred. It is now believed that Crooks had been planning the attack since it was announced by the Trump campaign on July 3rd, with evidence suggesting that he had scoped out the fairgrounds on multiple occasions prior to the rally.

New information obtained from 14,000 browser history links on Crooks' phone has provided further insight into his preparations. Although he did not leave an ideological manifesto like many mass-shooting perpetrators, FBI investigators discovered online searches related to school shootings, including research on Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley. Crooks also performed searches on next month's Democratic convention, Joe Biden, depressive disorder, and explosive materials and chemical compounds.

In addition to these disturbing findings, it has been revealed that Crooks had brought homemade bombs to the rally, intending to set them off with a remote fireworks igniter. He also had a bulletproof vest and three 30-round magazines in his Hyundai Sonata. Law enforcement officials disclosed that Crooks had received several packages marked "hazardous materials" at his home.

While the motive behind Crooks' actions remains unclear, some lawmakers who were briefed by law enforcement suggest that he had a general hatred for politicians. Former classmates described him as a quiet student with a small group of friends, while his interests included computer technology, engineering, history, and economics.

Experts in the field of mass shootings caution against solely attributing a political motive to Crooks' assassination attempt. They believe that he may have been focused on perpetrating mass violence and happened to choose a political rally as his target.

As investigations continue, law enforcement authorities are working to understand the full extent of Crooks' plans and motivations. The shocking security lapses that allowed him to fly a drone over the fairgrounds prior to the attack have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the security measures in place.